Can AI save the sluggish computer market? Microsoft launches AI-powered personal computers.

Microsoft Introduces a New Category of AI-Enabled PCs

On Monday, Microsoft unveiled a new category of PCs equipped with AI capabilities, aiming to integrate this burgeoning technology into its various products to compete with Alphabet and Apple. At an event held at the company's headquarters in Redmond, Washington, CEO Satya Nadella introduced what Microsoft calls "Copilot+" PCs, and announced that a range of manufacturers, including Acer and Asus, will be selling these computers.

High Stock Prices Drive New PC Launch

Microsoft launched these laptops at a time when its stock price is near a historical high, driven by Wall Street's expectations for strong profit growth propelled by AI. These new computers can handle more AI tasks without relying on cloud data centers, starting at $1,000, and will begin shipping on June 18.

Copilot+ PCs have the ability to process AI data directly on the computer, featuring a function called "Recall." "Recall" can track all activities on the computer, from web browsing to voice chats, creating a searchable history for users, remembering operations even from months ago.

Anticipating Market Impact of the New Category

At the event, Microsoft also showcased its Copilot voice assistant as a real-time virtual coach for "Minecraft" video game players. Yusuf Mehdi, who heads Microsoft's consumer marketing, stated that the company expects to sell 50 million AI PCs within the next year.

He mentioned at the press conference that the faster AI assistants running directly on PCs will be "the most compelling reason to upgrade PCs in a long time."

According to research firm Gartner, global PC shipments dropped by about 15% last year to 242 million units, indicating that Microsoft expects the new category of PCs to account for roughly one-fifth of all PC sales.

Analyst Ben Bajarin believes that users only need to be convinced that the experience of using this device itself justifies the new category of Copilot+ machines. Microsoft's new marketing category for "Copilot+" PCs highlights AI capabilities, similar to how Intel promoted the "Ultrabook" ultra-thin Windows laptops in 2011 to compete with Apple's MacBook Air.

Microsoft executives also stated that the latest technology GPT-4 from OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, will be available as part of Copilot "soon."