Microsoft expands AI features to more Windows 11 PCs via GPU
Microsoft is enabling AI features to run on Windows 11 PCs without a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU). This experimental update allows compatible Nvidia GPUs to power local AI applications, broadening access beyond exclusive Copilot+ models and impacting developers' ability to integrate AI into software.
Key points
- Microsoft's Windows App SDK now supports running AI language models on non-Copilot+ PCs.
- This experimental feature utilizes Nvidia GPUs (GeForce RTX 30 series and newer with 6+ GB vRAM) instead of an NPU.
- The move aims to bring local AI capabilities to a wider range of Windows 11 devices.
- Developers can leverage these APIs to integrate AI features into applications running on these PCs.
- This expansion is separate from, and does not grant access to, exclusive Copilot+ AI features like Recall.
Microsoft is extending artificial intelligence capabilities to a broader spectrum of Windows 11 personal computers through an experimental update to its Windows App SDK. This development allows devices that are not equipped with the specialized Neural Processing Unit (NPU) required for Copilot+ PCs to utilize their existing graphics processing units (GPUs) for running AI features locally.
The initiative, identified by Windows Latest, permits developers to integrate AI language models into their applications, provided the user's PC has a qualifying Nvidia GPU. Specifically, supported hardware includes Nvidia GeForce RTX 30 series GPUs or newer models that possess at least 6 GB of video RAM (vRAM). This bypasses the need for a dedicated NPU, democratizing access to certain on-device AI functionalities.
It is important to note that this expansion does not equate to all Windows 11 PCs gaining the full suite of exclusive AI features found on Copilot+ devices, such as the Recall function. Instead, the focus is on enabling software developers to harness local AI processing for their apps on a wider range of hardware configurations. This suggests a strategic move by Microsoft to enhance the AI utility of its operating system across a more diverse user base, contingent on the presence of capable discrete graphics hardware.
Sources
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