Microsoft is set to showcase its latest advancements in the field of AI at the Build developer conference this Tuesday. This event not only demonstrates Microsoft's own technological prowess but also represents an important competition with companies like Google and OpenAI in the AI race.
The advantage of Microsoft in the field of AI is evident, as its Windows operating system is the largest PC operating system globally, with a massive user base. CEO Satya Nadella predicted earlier this year that 2024 will be the year when AI becomes a "standard feature" of personal computers. Now, with the continuous progress of AI technology, Microsoft is striving to embed AI technology into the Windows system, providing users with a more intelligent and convenient user experience.
Microsoft has already introduced the Copilot chatbot assistant in the Bing search engine, and AI technology has also been widely applied in the Office productivity software. At the Build conference, Microsoft is expected to announce more integrated solutions for AI in the Windows system, as well as new features and applications of AI personal computers.
It is worth noting that Google and OpenAI have already held highly anticipated AI events before Microsoft. Google unveiled its latest AI models at its I/O conference and demonstrated how Gemini AI works on computers and smartphones. OpenAI released the GPT-4o model, further advancing AI technology. As a major investor in OpenAI, Microsoft's Copilot technology is also based on OpenAI's models.
For Microsoft, maintaining its leading position in the field of AI and boosting personal computer sales are dual challenges. In recent years, the personal computer market has experienced a downturn due to the popularity of mobile devices and the rise of cloud computing. However, with the increasing demand for remote work and online learning, the personal computer market is gradually recovering. Microsoft hopes to further drive the recovery of the personal computer market with the power of AI technology.
Industry analysts have given positive evaluations of Microsoft's AI strategy. They believe that Microsoft's new AI tools will increase the usage rate of Windows system, user stickiness, and consumer preference for high-performance personal computers. Additionally, these tools may bring in more search revenue for Microsoft.
In terms of hardware, Microsoft's AI personal computers will utilize chips from companies such as AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm. These chips are equipped with dedicated neural processing units (NPUs) capable of handling complex AI tasks. For example, users can use voice commands to request Copilot to summarize recorded content even without an internet connection.
The key hardware of AI personal computers is the NPU, a processor that surpasses the capabilities of traditional CPUs and is specifically designed for AI tasks. In recent years, companies like Apple have already been using NPUs in their products to enhance functions such as photo and video processing and voice recognition. With the continuous development of AI technology, it is expected that more manufacturers will release computers equipped with NPUs.
