Microsoft Surface Event: The 6 Biggest Announcements

Microsoft just wrapped up its special event ahead of Build 2024, and it had a lot of exciting news to share. Along with updates to its Surface lineup, Microsoft made some major announcements related to AI and a new era of PCs in partnership with Lenovo, Asus, Dell, and others.

Microsoft didn’t livestream this event, so if you want to catch up with everything it revealed, check out our roundup below.

The Launch of Copilot Plus PCs

Image: Allison Johnson / The Verge

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella revealed how Microsoft is “bringing the AI wave to PCs,” and that involves a new category of computers called Copilot Plus. These devices come with the Arm-based Snapdragon X Elite and Plus processors from Qualcomm and will later feature Intel and AMD chips.

The chips have neural processing units (NPUs) designed to power new AI features in Windows 11. As a result, Microsoft says Copilot Plus PCs are 58 percent faster than the M3 MacBook Air. In addition to Microsoft’s new Surface devices, Lenovo, Dell, Acer, Asus, and HP are launching Copilot Plus devices designed to support new AI features.

A New Recall Feature Keeps Tabs on Everything You Do on Your PC

Image: Allison Johnson / The Verge

One of the major AI features available within Copilot Plus PCs is Recall. The new tool runs locally on your device and logs everything you do on your computer, allowing you to search for and retrieve the content you’ve interacted with. That makes it possible to uncover a conversation you’ve had in apps like Discord or even a specific PowerPoint slide you were working on.

New Copilot Integrations Within Windows 11

Image: Allison Johnson

Microsoft is bringing Copilot to more areas of Windows 11. The AI assistant will be able to provide suggestions within the Settings menu, edit files within File Explorer, or write responses to notifications you receive.

Copilot is also getting OpenAI’s new GPT-4o model, allowing the AI to answer questions based on what you see on your screen.

The Surface Pro Gets a Speed Boost and an OLED Display Option

Image: Allison Johnson / The Verge

Microsoft’s new Surface Pro — sans model number — swaps out the last-gen’s Intel Core Ultra processor for Snapdragon X Elite and Plus chips from Qualcomm. It’s up to 90 percent faster than the previous Surface Pro, and it comes with the option for an OLED display panel for the first time.

The 13-inch Surface Pro starts at $999.99 and is available in four colors, including blue, beige, black, and platinum. It’s compatible with a new Surface Pro Flex Keyboard that works when attached or detached from the device.

A Surface Laptop That’s “Faster Than a MacBook Air”

Image: Allison Johnson / The Verge

Microsoft also announced the new Surface Laptop, which similarly offers the AI-ready Snapdragon X Elite and Plus chips. The device features a refreshed design with thinner bezels and a haptic touchpad. Microsoft says the device is more than 80 percent faster than its previous generation and offers up to 22 hours of local video playback.

The Surface Laptop 6 comes in 13.8- and 15-inch display options, starting at $999.99. It also comes in blue, beige, black, and platinum.

Adobe, DaVinci Resolve, CapCut, and More Are Coming to Copilot Plus PCs

Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge

Microsoft is partnering with companies like Adobe to optimize their apps for Copilot Plus PCs. The native Arm64 versions of Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Firefly, and Express will be available on Copilot Plus PCs today, while Illustrator and Premiere Pro will be available this summer. Copilot Plus PCs will also benefit from AI features within DaVinci Resolve, CapCut, Cephable, LiquidText, and Djay Pro.

With these groundbreaking announcements, Microsoft is clearly positioning itself at the forefront of the AI revolution in computing. The integration of AI into the core functionality of PCs promises to redefine how we interact with our devices, making them smarter, faster, and more intuitive.