Microsoft will be hosting a new digital (not in-person) event called “New Era of Work,” which is expected to focus on new AI innovations, information about some of the new features for Windows 11 24H2, and perhaps more importantly, the company will unveil new computers, including the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6.
The event will be streamed live on March 21, 2024, at 12PM EST (9AM PDT). (I’ll update this post with the link to the stream and additional information as it happens.)
The official page for the event notes “scaling AI in your environment with Copilot, Windows, and Surface,” meaning that the event’s primary focus will be AI. Microsoft will discuss new AI features that may require a Neural Processing Unit (NPU). Some of these features are likely to include the recently rumored “AI Explorer,” a more advanced version of Copilot with the ability to track your activities regardless of the application, with a timeline feature to search and find anything you have been working on in the past.
On March 21, the company will also showcase the new Super Resolution feature, which allows the system to upscale games with AI for better quality and frame rates. However, this will happen during the Game Developers Conference (GDC).
Microsoft is expected to share more information about the next feature update of Windows 11 (version 24H2), which is expected to be released during the second half of 2024. However, there will also be an early release for these new and other devices launching in the summer because these machines will require some of the new components. Still, they won’t receive all the new features until the feature update becomes fully available.
Windows 11 24H2 is shaping up to be a big update, and this comprehensive guide covers everything the company has been working on.
Since this will be a Surface event, the company will also introduce the new Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6, which are expected to include the new Intel Core Ultra and Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processors, which come built-in with NPUs, an essential component for speeding up and unlocking more AI experiences.
In addition to the new processors, the design of the devices will remain mostly unchanged. However, the Surface Pro 10 will offer an OLED display with anti-reflective technology and support for HDR. Furthermore, as part of the new specs, the Pro 10 will feature a new ultrawide webcam and NFC reader.
The Laptop 6 is rumored to include thinner bezels, rounded corners, a new touchpad with haptic feedback, and two USB-C ports instead of one like on the Laptop 5. A USB-A port will be included as well.
Microsoft will make different variants of these devices for commercial and consumer use. The ones with Intel processors should arrive in April, while the ones from Qualcomm could arrive in June.
The takeaway from these machines is that Microsoft is finally stepping up and choosing from the latest processors instead of using older generations like in previous versions.
Also, as the company previously announced, these new Surfaces, known as “AI PCs,” will include the new “Copilot” key on the keyboard.
What are your thoughts on what Microsoft plans to unveil? Let’s start a conversation in the comments.
