Microsoft and Qualcomm are quietly stepping away from the “Copilot Plus PC” brand name roughly two and a half years after launching it to highlight next-generation artificial intelligence hardware. According to reporting by Zac Bowden of Windows Central, upcoming hardware releases—including new 12-inch Microsoft Surface Pro and 13-inch Surface Laptop models—meet technical system requirements for AI capabilities yet omit the branding entirely.
Surface Hardware Drops the Copilot Plus PC Label
Microsoft has started omitting the Copilot Plus PC designation on newly developed hardware. Zac Bowden reported that the upcoming 12-inch Microsoft Surface Pro and 13-inch Surface Laptop models skip the marketing term despite fulfilling the necessary technical system architecture requirements. Brett Ostrom, Microsoft Corporate Vice President for Surface, confirmed this shift directly, stating that these specific devices “aren’t called Copilot Plus PCs”.
Qualcomm Signals Similar Branding Changes
Hardware partners are mirroring Microsoft’s departure from the nomenclature. Kedar Kondap, Qualcomm Senior Vice President of Computing and Gaming, addressed the rebrand. Kondap noted that computers delivering identical on-device AI capabilities will “probably” stop utilizing the Copilot Plus PC moniker moving forward, pointing to a broader ecosystem-wide pivot away from the terminology.
Upcoming October Event and Industry Expectations
Microsoft has scheduled an official event for October 7 focused on how local artificial intelligence will shape the next generation of personal computing. The Verge writer Sean Hollister predicts that the company will use this showcase to introduce a brand-new name or strategy to replace the phasing out of the Copilot Plus PC label. At the same time, official records show that Microsoft has not yet issued a formal public statement formally retiring the trademark.
Did You Know?
The “Copilot Plus PC” category was originally introduced to classify computers equipped with sufficient built-in artificial intelligence power.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are new Microsoft Surface models still capable of running on-device AI?
Yes. According to hardware reports, the new 12-inch Microsoft Surface Pro and 13-inch Surface Laptop models meet all technical system requirements for local artificial intelligence tasks, even though Microsoft no longer brands them as Copilot Plus PCs.
Who confirmed that the Copilot Plus PC name is being dropped?
Windows Central reporter Zac Bowden broke the story, while Microsoft Corporate Vice President for Surface Brett Ostrom and Qualcomm Senior Vice President Kedar Kondap both corroborated that the terminology is no longer being applied to eligible devices.
When is Microsoft holding its next major hardware and AI event?
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