Paul Surratt announced on the Microsoft blog that the new Copilot features will be released “‘aligned’ with the annual Windows 11 feature update, aka Windows 11 24H2.” Windows 10 is expected to see its annual feature update, dubbed Windows 11 24H2, roll out sequentially a month later in October.
ⓒ PCWorld
“The timing of Microsoft 365 Apps becoming the entry point for Microsoft Copilot will align with the timing of the annual Windows 11 feature updates,” the post said. “The changes will begin rolling out to managed PCs starting with an optional non-security preview release on September 24, 2024, followed by the monthly security updates for all supported versions of Windows 11 on October 8. Windows 10 PCs will see the changes about a month later.”
However, Microsoft added this note to the post: The dates provided are the monthly servicing update dates for supported versions of Windows 11, and do not correspond to the general availability of Windows 11, version 24H2.
Windows 11 24H2 will be available for download starting September 24. Go to Windows Update in the Windows Settings menu and turn on the option to “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available.” Otherwise, the updates will be pushed to your PC starting October 8.
Ironically, Windows 11 24H2 is not available to everyone even though it has been officially released for several months. Microsoft has made the final version of Windows 11 24H2 available with the release of the latest Surface Laptop (7th Edition) and Surface Pro (11th Edition), which includes many of the AI-based features of Windows 11.
Some are features previously seen on AI-powered PCs, predating the Copilot+ era. (Windows Studio effects, for example, included background blur and a new eye contact feature; since then they’ve been augmented with additional filters, lighting effects, and a voice clarity feature that filters out background noise.) Surface devices are also shipping with Microsoft’s Prism emulator, which allows some apps to run by emulating native X86 instructions.
AI-based features like Paint’s Co-Creator are coming with Windows 11 24H2. ⓒ PCWorld
However, to use these AI features, you’ll need a Copilot+-capable NPU. (You’ll get the update regardless, but it won’t be the part that enables the AI features.) If you already have a laptop with an AMD Ryzen AI 300 chip (and Intel’s Luna Lake), you’ll get the update to enable the features. Microsoft hasn’t made it clear whether this update is separate from the existing Windows 11 24H2 update.
What to expect in Windows 11 24H2
Windows 11 24H2 is expected to be a mixed bag. We already know that Ryzen laptops will see a significant performance boost. AutoSR (Auto Super Resolution) can improve the visuals of general games, just as technologies like Nvidia’s DLSS can improve performance in optimized games. Eurogamer’s test results for this technology were somewhat mixed, but generally positive. Wi-Fi 7 support is also coming.
In general, Windows 11 will feature some UI tweaks here and there, with most of the improvements coming from apps. On a Surface device, we were able to try out some AI experiences in Windows 11 24H2, including Paint’s Co-creator and Layers, and AI elements like background removal added to Photos. The controversial Recall feature will almost certainly be left out of any release outside of the Windows Insider Program Preview as it needs more rigorous testing.
Editor’s Note : Microsoft has clarified that the exact date it originally specified does not actually match the date when Windows 11 24H2 will be released to the public.
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