Microsoft appears to be moving on from the Copilot Plus PC name as it reshapes its approach to AI-powered Windows computers.
The company introduced the Copilot Plus PC label in 2024 to identify Windows PCs with the hardware needed to run advanced AI features locally. But the name is now disappearing from Microsoft’s newest devices, even when those machines still meet the technical requirements for the label.
Microsoft’s latest 12-inch Surface Pro and 13-inch Surface Laptop are examples. Both devices qualify for the Copilot Plus PC requirements, but Microsoft is choosing not to market them under that name. Microsoft Surface executive Brett Ostrom confirmed that the new machines are not being called Copilot Plus PCs.
Qualcomm is also signaling that the branding may have reached the end of its short run. Kedar Kondap, Qualcomm’s senior vice president of compute and gaming, said PCs providing the same type of AI experiences will probably move forward without the Copilot Plus branding.
The decision comes as AI hardware becomes increasingly common in mainstream computers. When Microsoft launched Copilot Plus PCs, the branding was intended to separate machines with dedicated AI processing capabilities from traditional PCs. But as more processors began including neural processing units, that distinction became less meaningful.
The Copilot Plus name was also closely connected to Microsoft’s Recall feature, which attracted significant criticism after its introduction. The company later faced broader criticism over the growing presence of AI promotions and features throughout Windows.
Microsoft is now preparing for another shift in its PC strategy. Its upcoming flagship hardware is expected to use Nvidia chips, pointing toward a different approach to running AI workloads directly on Windows devices.
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Microsoft has an event planned for October 7 focused on local AI and the future of PCs. That could provide the first major indication of what branding the company plans to use next as it moves beyond Copilot Plus PCs.
