Snapdragon X exclusive Copilot+ features begin trickling through to modern x86 Windows 11 PCs

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft has announced that several Windows 11 Copilot+ AI features are graduating from Snapdragon X exclusivity to AMD Ryzen AI 300 series and Intel Core Ultra 200V PCs. On Monday it began its expanded roll-out of features like Live Captions, Cocreator, Restyle Image, and Image Creator – so they will be available on modern AMD and Intel systems, as well as PCs packing Qualcomm Snapdragon X (SDX) series processors.

One of the most welcome additions to Windows 11 for those embraced by the expanded Copilot+ feature compatibility is probably Live Captions. Microsoft says that this feature “offers real-time translations in English for audio and video content during virtual meetings, podcasts, or video playback.” This feature, which Microsoft claims can live translate from 40 languages to English, has been around a while for SDX PCs, and is “coming soon” for those with a Ryzen AI 300 or Ultra 200V PC.

Another new Copilot+ addition which Microsoft characterizes as an accessibility feature is rolling out to Qualcomm SDX machines soon. Voice Access delivers better descriptive and flexible language interaction with Windows. AMD and Intel system owners with NPUs will have to wait until “later this year” for this one, though.

Cocreator in Paint is now ready for modern AMD and Intel processor owners. Here, Microsoft’s AI can help you create imagery from prompts or analyzing and improving on your badly drawn scrawl.

With Copilot+ smarts introduced to Microsoft’s Photos app, Windows 11 users with the requisite AMD and Intel chips get two ‘AI’ features to play with. Restyle Image is an AI-driven photo-filter style feature which can make existing works look something like an oil painting, sketch, or so on. Image Creator does what it says from your simple, or complex, text prompts.

NPU forever idle — Give your idle NPU something to do (Image credit: Future)

March non-security preview release update is required, for now

Microsoft says to make sure you switch on ‘Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available’ in your updates control panel. If you are eager to try some of the features outlined above, that unfortunately means opting to install the March non-security preview release. You must also ensure the host apps (Paint, Photos etc) are up-to-date via the Microsoft Store. Remember, the expanded feature rollout availability will also vary based on your location and language selection.

Considering x86 PCs with NPU-packing processors have been available for months, Microsoft has been rather tardy in breaking its most attractive Copilot+ features out from their Qualcomm-only rut. According to our editor-in-chief, you all haven’t been missing much, though. Not long after launch, the Copilot+ features were judged to be “a bad joke.” Moreover, the much heralded Recall feature remains in (re)development after all the security and privacy concerns that were raised.

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Mark Tyson is a news editor at Tom's Hardware. He enjoys covering the full breadth of PC tech; from business and semiconductor design to products approaching the edge of reason.

9 Comments Comment from the forums

Pierce2623

I find it crazy that Qualcomm ever paid for timed exclusivity in the first place, from the company who’s AI development manual literally just says “give Altman whatever he asks for”.
Reply
DS426

AI has been around for some time and is integrated into a lot of things in a rather opaque fashion because most people just care about "how do I drive the car?" not "how does the car work exactly?" in regards to getting from point A to point B. Qualcomm tried to jump ahead of the hype train and executed a predictable business failure as that's just not how things work; there has to be sufficient time for thoughtful design, taking the time to develop something that actually brings value, and then bring that product to market with clear marketing on the benefits.

It might have turned out differently if Qualcomm already had more years of experience and market penetration in the Windows universe, but divebombing in and thinking they're a powerhouse disruptor because they implemented AI a little more than the competitors results in more of a technical advantage than a strategic and truly meaning one.

As expected, these features, which certainly aren't exciting to me at all, will be available on the robust Windows x86 ecosystem soon -- 100% worth the wait for me personally and for the company I work for. I must say I'm a little disappointed how hard some resellers pushed Q's SDX laptops on us while seemingly not knowing the drawbacks of ARM on Windows and that Intel and AMD options were coming soon... or worse, they didn't care to communicate it because a sale is sale. Fortunately, we have one reseller and account rep that's awesome, but I've found that to be rare over the years.
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dimar

Will this run on RTX and AMD equivalent?
Reply
cyrusfox

Pierce2623 said:
I find it crazy that Qualcomm ever paid for timed exclusivity in the first place, from the company who’s AI development manual literally just says “give Altman whatever he asks for”.
Where is the evidence Qualcomm paid for this exclusivity? I was under the impression this was Microsoft attempting to give Qualcomm a leg up over the established players (AMD and Intel). I am still convinced this should be added to all the other failed Windows on arm initiatives at this point, but perhaps when we are flooded with cheaper ARM alternatives I may change my tune.
Reply
Roland Of Gilead

cyrusfox said:
I was under the impression this was Microsoft attempting to give Qualcomm a leg up over the established players
Really though? MS doing a leg up, and getting nothing for it? It must have been paid for. But in hindsight, the whole Copilot and general consumer AI is a big nothing burger.

All of the local tech stores used to have AI signing all over the place, literally trying to ram sales down peoples' throats! All the AI stuff is now down. Until there's some killer app, Co-pilot and the like, will trundle along slowly.
Reply
cyrusfox

Roland Of Gilead said:
Really though? MS doing a leg up, and getting nothing for it? It must have been paid for. But in hindsight, the whole Copilot and general consumer AI is a big nothing burger.

All of the local tech stores used to have AI signing all over the place, literally trying to ram sales down peoples' throats! All the AI stuff is now down. Until there's some killer app, Co-pilot and the like, will trundle along slowly.
There’s no concrete evidence that Qualcomm paid for AI Copilot exclusivity. Microsoft’s decision to prioritize Qualcomm first likely stems from their ongoing ARM collaboration, not a financial deal, as well as their continuous failures at making windows work on any platform other than x86.

I agree that AI is a nothing burger, but Microsoft was clearly hoping it would be the killer add in and move more installs and subscriptions to 365 as well as break them free from x86. I would love to trial a private AI personal database on my outlook emails of the last 7 years(as well as my other local offices docs). that would be incredibly useful or how about smart caching of all my local files so I can find that one document... Never anything truly useful, auto captions and what recall... I have a Lunar lake 258V platform, great laptop, NPU never used except always auto pausing VLC videos I am watching... I need to figure how to turn that feature off as it sucks...
Reply
Roland Of Gilead

cyrusfox said:
There’s no concrete evidence that Qualcomm paid for AI Copilot exclusivity. Microsoft’s decision to prioritize Qualcomm first likely stems from their ongoing ARM collaboration, not a financial deal,
I just don't see some financial aspect being involved, but we can agree to disagree :)

cyrusfox said:
Never anything truly useful, auto captions and what recall... I have a Lunar lake 258V platform, great laptop, NPU never used except always auto pausing VLC videos I am watching... I need to figure how to turn that feature off as it sucks...
LOL. Autopause! it's a pain!!

BTW, how is the iGPU on your LL? It's pretty strong, right? What's your experience of it? Slightly off topic, but am interested to know.
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Pierce2623

Roland Of Gilead said:
I just don't see some financial aspect being involved, but we can agree to disagree :)

LOL. Autopause! it's a pain!!

BTW, how is the iGPU on your LL? It's pretty strong, right? What's your experience of it? Slightly off topic, but am interested to know.
The iGPU is indeed quite strong in dx12. In older games, Intel is still pretty hit and miss.
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cyrusfox

Roland Of Gilead said:
BTW, how is the iGPU on your LL? It's pretty strong, right? What's your experience of it? Slightly off topic, but am interested to know.
Its great, I haven't done much with it to be honest , low level emulation (800fps+) and play devilutionx with the kids (not as kid friendly as I remember...). I am an old gamer though, I don't play anything new, most latest game I lose hours on is SC2. Big step up over past iGPU of Intel though.

I have a 2080ti(waterblock) I need to get installed if I do want to do anything serious. need to rebuild my pc, either transfer my tiny itx build to a larger case with water (currently 13900) or build anew likely on the 285k or its refresh if we get one.

To be honest, the lunar lake does everything I need, I have not hooked up my desktop since I moved (going on3+ months now). I only miss it when I am doing encodes for the family, still doing about 2x content speed on handbrake 1080p content, but the lunarlake is silent and doesn't care if I don't charge it for multiple days.
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