George TsagkarakisTwo and a half years ago, Microsoft wanted you to believe one label mattered more than any spec sheet. “Copilot Plus PC” was supposed to tell you which laptops had enough built-in AI muscle to get things done. Now Microsoft and Qualcomm seem to be admitting the brand is already dead.
The clearest sign comes from Microsoft’s own hardware. The new 12-inch Surface Pro and 13-inch Surface Laptop technically meet the system requirements for a Copilot Plus PC. Microsoft isn’t calling them that anymore.
Microsoft’s Surface boss confirmed the change
“These are not called Copilot Plus PCs,” Microsoft Surface CVP Brett Ostrom told Windows Central’s Zac Bowden.
Qualcomm isn’t pushing back either. Kedar Kondap, Qualcomm’s SVP of compute and gaming, told Bowden that computers offering the same experiences will “probably” not use that branding anymore. That’s a hedge, but it’s not a defense.
The label had a short shelf life from the start
None of this should surprise anyone who followed the launch. Back in 2024, critics pointed out that almost every PC would soon contain the basic AI hardware the brand was supposed to signal. A badge that eventually applies to nearly everything stops telling you anything.
The software didn’t help. Recall, the flagship feature of Copilot Plus PCs, wasn’t well received. And Microsoft took plenty of flak for nagging Windows users with AI upsells, plus the dedicated Copilot key on keyboards. You can finally remap that key now, which says a lot about how many people wanted it in the first place.
Nvidia chips are the next pitch
There’s another reason the old name looks stale. Microsoft’s flagship hardware is about to get Nvidia chips instead, a move that’s supposed to kick off a new era of personal AI in Windows.
Microsoft is hosting a “conversation on how local AI will shape the next chapter of the PC” on October 7th. My bet is that it arrives with a shiny new brand to replace “Copilot Plus PC.” If you’re shopping for a laptop before then, ignore the sticker and read the spec sheet. That’s the one label Microsoft can’t rename.
