Microsoft is hosting a special event in Seattle on May 20, and as always, the company is staying tight-lipped about what exactly we’ll see. Fortunately, we already have a pretty good idea of what the company intends to talk about, and it’s likely to include Windows, Surface, and as-yet-unannounced AI experiences that will bring them together.
Unfortunately, this year’s event will not be live-streamed, which means you’ll have to follow our live blog to see the news as it happens. Or keep reading for a preview of the messages I expect to see.
Windows 11
Microsoft is expected to take some time to unpack its next major Windows 11 update, which will ship later this year as the Windows 11 2024 update. This version will ship first to new Qualcomm-based PCs Snapdragon X that will be released in June and will be released for everyone else in the fall.
A big focus for this year’s Windows 11 update is on next-generation AI experiences, some of which are expected to require a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) with around 40-45 TOPS of power. Qualcomm’s upcoming SoC may work with this, and Intel and AMD’s next-gen chips coming in 2025 are also expected to drive these next-gen AI experiences.
AI Explorer
The likely star of the show will be AI Explorer, an internal umbrella term for a number of next-generation AI experiences coming to Windows 11 later this year. AI Explorer will provide a set of features that use next-generation NPU hardware to allow Windows to run AI in the background that analyzes everything you do and turns it into snapshots and memories that can be called up on later date using natural language.
According to my sources, the feature includes a timeline interface that will let you scroll back through all the different things you’ve done on your computer that the AI has captured, and let you recall any moment simply by entering criteria for search.
For example, if you’re chatting with a friend named Sarah on WhatsApp who casually mentions a list of movies she wants to see, typing “show me the list of movies Sarah said she wants to see” will bring up the exact moment in time. when this conversation was happening.
AI Explorer can also analyze what’s currently on the screen and provide contextual suggestions based on what it can see. An example of this is looking at two apps or web pages side by side and asking AI Explorer to compare the two things. Or you might be looking at an image sent to you in an email, and AI Explorer might suggest removing the background of that image using photos with one click.
You can learn more about these upcoming AI Explorer features in my in-depth walkthrough.
Windows Studio Advanced Effects
Microsoft also plans to unveil a number of improved Windows Studio Effects, notably new video effects that will apply real-time filters in a handful of different artistic styles. They are expected to be built into Windows and can be implemented in any application that uses the built-in webcam and Studio Effects feeds.
Live Captions
Live captions can also be mentioned. I hear Microsoft is working on a new AI-powered feature that will enable real-time translation of different languages based on the audio being played on the system. Microsoft will tout this as an example of how AI is improving accessibility software.
Local generative AI
I also expect Microsoft to talk a bit about how it enables Generative AI experiences on the device. So far, many of the AI experiences in Windows 11 have been cloud-based, allowing non-NPU PCs to use LLM technology. Starting later this year, Copilot will acquire some local generative AI capabilities, reducing their reliance on cloud computing on dedicated NPUs.
Surface
The other half of this event is expected to be all about Surface and Windows on Arm. Specifically, I expect Microsoft to unveil consumer variants of the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6, both powered by Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon X series SoCs.
Qualcomm’s new chip beats Intel’s latest Core Ultra chips in both performance and efficiency metrics, and even trades blows with the latest MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. It’s the first Windows on Arm chip to really compete, and hardware makers are finally confident enough to position Windows on Arm devices as part of their main lines.
That’s what we’ll see with the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 at this event. As far as I know, Microsoft only intends to offer these consumer variants with Arm chips, a first for the Surface line. I also expect other OEMs like Dell, HP, and Lenovo to announce their own Qualcomm-powered laptops around the same time.
The first Snapdragon X-series powered laptops are expected to start shipping in June, with Microsoft’s Surface Pro and Surface Laptop offerings expected to be among the first available.
Surface Laptop
It’s the Surface Laptop line that needs the most design refresh, and it sounds like what we might get with an Arm-powered Surface Laptop 6. According to my sources, the new Surface Laptop with Arm will be available in both the 13, 8- and 15-inch display size, both of which consist of thinner bezels with rounded display corners.
The device is also said to come with an updated keyboard with a larger haptic trackpad, which is said to be similar to the trackpad found on the Surface Laptop Studio 2. I also hear that the device will have a revised selection of ports including one USB-A, two USB-C and Surface Connect.
Surface Pro
As far as I know, the handheld powered Surface Pro isn’t that big of an update. I expect it to ship with a similar design to the Surface Pro 10 for business, including the rounded display corners that debuted with that model. The device will come in more colors, as will the Surface Pro Type Cover, which has been updated with a special Copilot key.
I’m told that Microsoft plans to offer the Arm-powered Surface Pro in an OLED display configuration for the first time, matching that of the new iPad Pro. The device will also offer an anti-reflective coating similar to the Surface Pro 10 for business.
Surface Go 4
While I don’t expect this to be mentioned at the event, I have heard that the Surface Go 4 will be available for consumer purchase this summer. Until now, the Surface Go 4 has been available exclusively to retail customers, but that means you haven’t been able to find the Surface Go 4 at retail stores like Best Buy or Amazon.
I understand that the Surface Go 4 for consumers will be identical to the Surface Go 4 for commercial customers, meaning it will be powered by the same Intel N200 processor rather than the Arm chip.
Surprised?
It’s always possible that Microsoft has a surprise or two up its sleeve. I know we won’t be hearing about any other Surface products at the event. That means no Surface Laptop Studio, no Surface Studio, and definitely no Surface Duo or headphones. The focus is on the Surface Pro and Surface Laptop and Qualcomm’s latest SoC.
So, that’s everything I expect to see (and not see) at Microsoft’s event on May 20. I’ll be on the ground covering the event as it happens, so keep it locked to Windows Central for all the news.
