Microsoft removes Copilot+ label from latest Surface laptops
Microsoft has stopped using the Copilot+ PC branding on its newest laptops even though the devices still meet the hardware requirements. A Surface executive said the company remains focused on on-device AI and hybrid experiences but will not use the Copilot+ name. Microsoft is also reducing Copilot's presence in Windows 11 while continuing to develop AI features.
Microsoft introduced Copilot+ in 2024 as a way to mark PCs with local AI processing and NPUs capable of at least 40 TOPS. The effort followed a rough launch and weak sales, and Surface CVP Brett Ostrum later confirmed at Snapdragon Summit 2026 that new Surface machines still satisfy those old hardware targets but no longer carry the name.
Other qualifying products, such as Nvidia's RTX Spark N1X and Microsoft's Project Zenith, also lack the badge. Meanwhile, Microsoft is trimming Copilot's footprint in Windows 11, tuning the OS for 8GB systems during a memory shortage, while still developing AI tools like Home, Code, and Autopilot and testing some features on discrete GPUs.
The branding shift may matter most to shoppers and IT buyers who treated Copilot+ as a quick signal of AI-ready hardware. Without it, they could need to compare specifications more carefully. PC makers may gain flexibility in marketing, while developers might see less pressure to target a specific label. Microsoft's quieter Windows 11 approach could ease complaints about clutter and performance, though AI features are likely to remain prominent.