Microsoft Copilot Plus PCs FAQ: What it is, features, how to access it, and PC requirements (2024)

Microsoft Copilot Plus PCs FAQ: What it is, features, how to access it, and PC requirements (1)

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  • What is it?
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What is it?
Price
How is it different from Copilot?
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Performance
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Release date

During the Microsoft Event 2024 keynote, the company unveiled Copilot+ and discussed how next-gen AI features go hand-in-hand with AI PC laptops. Despite having a name similar to that of the Copilot AI assistant, Copilot+ is very different and encompasses several different things rather than one specific service.

So, just what is Copilot+? Does it cost money to use? What features does Copilot+ have? How is Copilot+ different from plain old Copilot? And when does it come out? We'll discuss all that and more.

Microsoft Copilot+: What is it?

What is Microsoft Copilot+?

Microsoft Copilot+ is a term meant to encompass several different next-gen AI functions made available locally on AI PCs that run Windows. These AI features come with new "Copilot+ PCs," and they provide enhanced AI experiences such as being able to scroll back through your viewing history to see things you've looked at before, locally generate AI images, make advanced edits locally within creative software like Adobe Photoshop, and more.

Microsoft specifically says that "Copilot+ PCs are optimized to run AI workloads locally with better performance, featuring 8 high performance cores and 4 efficiency optimized cores in the built-in CPU within the X Elite."

Is Copilot+ the same as Copilot Pro?

Microsoft Copilot+: Price

Microsoft Copilot Plus PCs FAQ: What it is, features, how to access it, and PC requirements (2)

How much does Microsoft Copilot+ cost?

You don't need to pay a subscription or make any software purchases to gain access to Microsoft Copilot+. However, Copilot+ only comes preinstalled on "Copilot+ PCs," which start launching in June 2024. So you will need to have one of these new AI PCs that run Windows to use Copilot+.

Microsoft Copilot+: Features

Microsoft Copilot Plus PCs FAQ: What it is, features, how to access it, and PC requirements (3)

What features does Copilot+ provide?

Rather than being tied to specific software, Copilot+ encapsulates several different next-gen AI features that are only available on AI PCs. This includes local AI photo and video editing, enhanced Windows Studio Effects, local AI image generation, the ability to scroll across a timeline of things you've previously looked at, and more.

Additional Copilot+ AI features on AI PCs allow you to:

  • Recall anything you've previously seen and scroll through it on a timeline
  • Create enhanced AI edits in compatible Adobe programs
  • Provide Live Caption translations in real time
  • Suggest visual and contextual edits based on what's on your screen
  • Empower local image and text generation with Cocreator in near real-time
  • Grant access to advanced Windows Studio Effects
  • Produce generative AI locally in a more secure and private capacity

How is it Copilot+ different from Copilot?

Microsoft Copilot Plus PCs FAQ: What it is, features, how to access it, and PC requirements (4)

How is Microsoft Copilot+ different from Copilot?

Microsoft Copilot is an AI assistant that people can access via the cloud. For instance, you might ask Copilot to write up an essay outline, and then a distant server generates that outline for you before displaying it on your computer. Meanwhile, Copilot+ is a term that encompasses several next-gen AI features that can be done locally on an AI PC in various programs. For instance, anyone using a Windows laptop with an AI-boosting NPU can access additional AI features in Adobe programs, DaVinci Resolve Studio, CapCut, Windows Studio Effects, and more.

Microsoft Copilot+: Performance

In an interview with Wall Street Journal (which you can watch embedded above), Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella talks Copilot+ PCs and discusses how they not only "beat Apple's Macs" but also bring real competition back to the Windows versus Mac discussion.

So what exactly is Copilot+ PC performance like? According to Microsoft, these AI PCs' AI-boosting NPUs (Neural Processing Units), make these laptops very fast and efficient. For instance, Microsoft says its new AI PC Surface laptops and other Windows AI PCs with Copilot+ are 58% faster than Apple's MacBook Air M3.

Are Copilot+ PCs faster than Apple MacBook Air M3?

Yes. According to Microsoft, Copilot+ PCs (AI PCs with Windows) are 58% faster than Apple's most powerful MacBook Air M3 laptop.

Microsoft Copilot+: PC Requirements

Microsoft Copilot Plus PCs FAQ: What it is, features, how to access it, and PC requirements (5)

What are the Microsoft Copilot+ PC requirements?

Only Windows AI PCs with an NPU (Neural Processing Unit) capable of 40 TOPS (trillion operations per second) or higher are compatible with Copilot+.

How do I get Microsoft Copilot+?

Here are some AI PC laptops that come with Copilot+ (in alphabetical order):

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  • Acer Swift 14
  • ASUS Vivobook S 15
  • Dell XPS 13
  • Dell Latitude 7455 & Dell Latitude 5455
  • HP OmniBook X
  • HP EliteBook Ultra G1q
  • Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x
  • Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6
  • Microsoft Surface Laptop 7
  • Microsoft Surface Pro 11
  • Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge

How do I get Copilot+ on my PC?

Copilot+ is the term for several different next-gen AI features that only work on a computer with an NPU (Neural Processing Unit) that's capable of 40 TOPS or higher. You'll be able to access its various features in a number of different ways, not just by opening one program. For instance, Copilot+ PCs optimize AI tools in Adobe programs like Photoshop, Lightroom, and Express.More programs will be made compatible with these Copilot+ capabilities as time goes on.

Remember, if you don't have an AI PC, you cannot access Copilot+ AI features.

Micorosoft Copilot+: Release date

Microsoft Copilot Plus PCs FAQ: What it is, features, how to access it, and PC requirements (6)

When does Copilot+ launch?

Copilot+ PCs will start to launch on June 18, 2024, starting with Surface devices. After that, various manufacturers will launch additional Windows AI PCs with Copilot+ support.

Stepping into our AI future

Over the last few years, different tech companies have been vying for control over the AI market. Now that Microsoft has announced Copilot+, it is once more solidifying its role as an AI machine learning leader. Integrating next-gen AI features locally throughout the AI PC experience is definitely one way to stay relevant.

I know I'm excited to see what kind of additional edits this allows me to make in Adobe Photoshop or Premiere Pro. There are sure to be additional announcements for Microsoft Copilot+ as time goes on and we'll be sure to update this page as they come.

Microsoft Copilot Plus PCs FAQ: What it is, features, how to access it, and PC requirements (7)

Rebecca Spear

Editor and Reviewer

Self-professed gaming geek, Rebecca Spear, is one of Windows Central's editors and reviewers with a focus on gaming handhelds, PC gaming, and laptops. When she isn't checking out the latest games on Xbox Game Pass, PC, ROG Ally, or Steam Deck; she can be found digital drawing with a Wacom tablet. She's written thousands of articles with everything from editorials, reviews, previews, features, previews, and hardware reviews over the last few years. If you need information about anything gaming-related, her articles can help you out. She also loves testing game accessories and any new tech on the market.You can follow her @rrspear on X (formerly Twitter).

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    Microsoft Copilot Plus PCs FAQ: What it is, features, how to access it, and PC requirements (2024)

    FAQs

    How to access Microsoft Copilot? ›

    Use Copilot at Microsoft365.com or in the Microsoft 365 (Office)...
    1. Go to microsoft365.com in your browser (Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or Apple Safari). ...
    2. Sign in using your work or school account for Microsoft 365.
    3. In the navigation pane on the left side of the screen, select Copilot .

    What is copilot+ pc? ›

    Copilot+ PCs are up to 20 times more powerful1 and up to 100 times as efficient2 for running AI workloads and deliver industry-leading AI acceleration. Copilot+ PCs outperform Apple's M3 in MacBook Pro by up to 28% in sustained multithreaded performance,3 all while delivering all-day battery life.

    How to enable Windows Copilot? ›

    Get started with Copilot in Windows

    To get started, just press + C, or use the Copilot in Windows icon located on the right end of the taskbar.

    Does Copilot have a desktop app? ›

    In addition to the Copilot goodness you get on your laptop/desktop, you can also use Copilot on your phone.

    How do I access Copilot in my browser? ›

    To try Copilot, sign into Microsoft Edge and select the Copilot icon in the browser sidebar. Feature availability and functionality may vary by device type, market, and browser version.

    How do I install Microsoft AI Copilot? ›

    Installing Microsoft Copilot in Visual Studio Code

    Search for “Microsoft Copilot” in the Extensions view. Click the Install button next to the Microsoft Copilot extension to install it. Once installed, the Microsoft Copilot extension will be ready to use within Visual Studio Code.

    Is Microsoft Copilot available for all? ›

    Since June 12, 2024, Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 (formerly Microsoft 365 Copilot) is generally purchasable across all sales channels by enterprise customers as paid add-on for: Microsoft 365 Apps for business/Apps for enterprise/Business Basic/Business Premium/Business Standard/F1/F3/E3/E5. Office 365 E1/E3/E5.

    How does Microsoft copilot work? ›

    Copilot receives an input prompt from a user in an app, such as Word or PowerPoint. Copilot then pre-processes the input prompt through an approach called grounding, which improves the specificity of the prompt, to help you get answers that are relevant and actionable to your specific task.

    How do I enable Bing Copilot? ›

    Enable Copilot in Edge
    1. The Copilot service plan must be turned on and the user must have an eligible license.
    2. The user must sign in to bing.com/chat with their Entra ID (work account).
    3. The user can then access Copilot by clicking on the Copilot icon in the upper right of the Edge browser (Ctrl+Shift+.).
    Mar 25, 2024

    Does Copilot need Internet access? ›

    The AI models there compute the appropriate response and send it back to the app you're using. This means you'll need an internet connection to access Copilot, as most personal computers aren't powerful enough for LLM-level work.

    How to use Copilot in Office 365 Word? ›

    Let Copilot enhance and create content based on the information you provide.
    1. In your Word document, select the text, list, or table you want Copilot to work with.
    2. Select the Copilot icon. ...
    3. Select Make changes and in the Draft with Copilot dialog tell Copilot what you'd like to do with the selected text.

    How much does Microsoft Copilot cost? ›

    How much does Copilot for Microsoft 365 cost? The license fees are $30 per user, per month for Copilot for Microsoft 365 and $20 per user, per month for Copilot Pro. However, the total cost involves more than a single license fee.

    Is Microsoft Copilot available? ›

    Copilot in Teams is available on Windows, Mac, web, Android, and iOS.

    Can I use Microsoft Copilot for free? ›

    Copilot helps you find the right information, create unique content, and get things done faster. To use the free version of Copilot, visit copilot.microsoft.com.

    How do I use Microsoft edge Copilot? ›

    You can access Copilot in the Edge Sidebar by clicking the Copilot icon at the top right side of the screen.

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