Copilot+ PC: Check for Applications

• Copilot+ PCs deliver specialized hardware to speed local up AI models.
• Several Windows AI features require Copilot+ PCs, even though most Copilot features do not.
• Organizations should not broadly mandate Copilot+ PCs until they have found useful desktop AI applications.

Copilot+ PCs are Windows 11 PCs with specialized processors that are required for some new Windows search, text generation, and other features . However, organizations will want to pilot some relevant applications before adding Copilot+ PCs to their purchase standards.

What Is a Copilot+ PC?

A Copilot+ PC’s defining characteristic is a neural processing unit (NPU) capable of performing at least 40 trillion operations per second (TOPS). Copilot+ PCs also require at least 16GB of RAM and a 256GB solid state disk. The specifications are a step up from a separate standard called AI PC, which calls for an NPU but does not specify minimum throughput (see fig. 1).

Copilot+ PCs are available from Dell, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft, Qualcomm, and Samsung. NPUs were initially available only on ARM systems, but since mid-2025 they are also available on x64.