Microsoft’s Copilot Plus AI features, previously limited to select laptops, are poised to expand to desktop PCs, driven by Intel’s upcoming Arrow Lake CPU refresh. The key to this expansion lies in the upgraded Neural Processing Unit (NPU) of the new processors, which are expected to meet Microsoft’s 40 TOPS (trillions of operations per second) requirement for Copilot Plus.
The rumored Core Ultra 200 refresh will feature a new “NPU 4” design, mirroring the architecture found in Intel’s Lunar Lake laptop CPUs already supporting Copilot Plus. This integration would unlock the full potential of Copilot Plus on standard desktop PCs, a functionality currently confined to mini PCs and all-in-one systems utilizing laptop-grade processors.
Intel’s focus with the Arrow Lake Refresh appears to be heavily weighted towards NPU enhancements. Reports indicate that the refresh will not include increases in CPU or GPU core counts compared to existing Core Ultra 200 series. While this might not excite users prioritizing raw CPU power, it significantly broadens the accessibility of AI-driven features on desktop platforms.