Microsoft’s annual developer conference, Microsoft Build 2024, begins on May 21. They will likely unveil the Windows 11 24H2 update with the new AI Explorer feature. The company is also expected to release Snapdragon X Elite-powered Surface laptops a day before the event.
Microsoft is expected to announce exciting AI features for Windows 11, powerful and efficient Snapdragon X Elite laptops, and improvements in many consumer products. From Windows Copilot and new ARM-powered laptops to AI Explorer and on-device AI applications, there are many reasons for users to be excited about Microsoft Build 2024.
The main theme of Microsoft Build 2024 is AI. Microsoft asks, “How will AI shape your future?” For the first time, they can deliver features and experiences on thin, lightweight laptops without worrying about performance or battery life, thanks to the efficient ARM-based Qualcomm processor. It’s time for Windows on ARM (WoA) to shine.
Snapdragon X Elite Laptops are Coming
Just a day before Build 2024, Microsoft will unveil new Surface laptops powered by the Snapdragon X Elite processor on May 20. Rumors suggest that Microsoft will announce the Surface Laptop 6 and Surface Pro 10 with Snapdragon X Elite at the event. There will be no Intel variants for consumers this time.
Furthermore, leaks suggest that the upcoming Surface laptops will rival Apple’s M3 MacBooks in performance and battery life. If true, this will redefine Windows laptops as a strong alternative to MacBooks for consumers and developers. I’m eagerly looking forward to the event.
AI Explorer in Windows 11
On May 20, Microsoft is also expected to unveil the Windows 11 24H2 build, featuring many exciting AI enhancements. One highly anticipated feature is AI Explorer, which can analyze your PC interactions and create a searchable memory. You can then use natural language prompts to find relevant information from this indexed memory.
Leaks suggest that AI Explorer on Windows 11 will also be able to read your screen and assist with various tasks. Recently, OpenAI showcased a demo on macOS with the new ChatGPT desktop app, which could see the screen and offer real-time help.
While OpenAI has not released a dedicated ChatGPT app for Windows, Microsoft might be developing an integrated AI experience for Windows 11 using on-device vision models, possibly launching on May 21. This is pretty exciting.
Leaks also indicate that AI models will run locally on devices using Snapdragon X Elite’s powerful NPU, which can perform 45 trillion operations per second (TOPS). This capability allows running language and vision models on your laptop, providing AI assistance while keeping your data private and not sending it to the cloud.
Anticipation Grows for Microsoft Build 2024
At the Build 2024 event, Microsoft has scheduled numerous intriguing sessions covering topics like Windows, Copilot, AI integration, and harnessing Snapdragon X Elite’s capabilities. One session titled “Building Gen-AI experiences using LLM and LVM” suggests the potential for running large language models (LLM) and large vision models (LVM) on Windows laptops. Quite exciting, isn’t it?
Another event titled “Employ AI on Snapdragon X Elite for code generation and image creation” hints at deep AI integration into tools like GIMP, VSCode, and more. Additionally, there’s a session on Qualcomm AI Hub demonstrating how developers can efficiently deploy optimized models on the Snapdragon X Elite NPU.
Overall, from new ARM hardware to exciting AI features for Windows 11, it’s an exciting time for Windows enthusiasts. The array of events scheduled for MS Build 2024 suggests that fresh AI applications and experiences are on the horizon for Windows 11.
So, are you excited for Microsoft Build 2024? Share your thoughts in the comments below!