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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesAn AI PC is a computer whose hardware and software are built to support AI workloads, often with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) to accelerate them. The label is broad: Microsoft’s more specific Windows category is the Copilot+ PC, which requires an NPU rated at 40+ TOPS for many of its AI features. Neither label means that every AI task runs on the computer itself. Whether processing is local, cloud-based, or split between them depends on the feature and app.
What is an AI PC?
“AI PC” is a broad industry label for a computer equipped to run AI workloads. One important component may be an NPU, or Neural Processing Unit: specialized hardware for accelerating neural-network operations. Software must be designed to use the NPU; having one does not automatically make every application faster or keep its AI processing local.
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In Windows, Copilot+ PC is a defined category within the broader AI PC label. Microsoft describes Copilot+ PCs as Windows 11 devices powered by a high-performance NPU. Microsoft says many of the new Windows AI features require an NPU capable of 40+ trillion operations per second (TOPS). This is a platform requirement for many features, not a universal definition of AI PC, a real-world speed rating, or a guarantee that every AI task runs on-device. Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs developer guide
Which AI features run locally?
Some Windows AI components are expressly designed to process tasks on the PC. Microsoft documents on-device image creation, image processing and transformation, as well as Phi Silica, a small language model optimized for the NPU.
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Phi Silica language tasks
Microsoft describes Phi Silica as a local language model for Copilot+ PCs. Its documented uses include text understanding, summarization, rewriting, and generating short-form content. Those examples describe supported component capabilities; they do not mean that every app offering writing help uses Phi Silica. Microsoft’s Windows Copilot+ AI components documentation
Image creation and processing
Windows also includes components for image creation, processing, and transformation that can use the Copilot+ PC’s NPU. But a feature’s local model support does not prove that every related workflow is offline. For example, Microsoft says Paint Cocreator uses cloud services and requires an internet connection. Microsoft’s Windows 11 specifications
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Does an AI PC need an NPU?
No single definition of “AI PC” makes an NPU universal. An app can run AI models using different hardware, and Windows AI support varies by feature. Microsoft’s Windows AI API documentation lists feature-specific support across NPUs, supported GPUs, and CPUs. Some APIs are available on supported Copilot+ PCs through the NPU, while certain features also work on other Windows 11 devices through supported GPUs or CPUs. OCR, image description, speech recognition, and image or video super resolution do not all have identical hardware requirements. Microsoft’s Windows AI APIs documentation
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- New AI Superpowers - Discover the power of Recall (preview), improved Windows search, and Click to Do (preview) on Copilot plus PCs. Effortlessly locate past content, perform natural searches, and interact with text and images – all while ensuring your data remains private and you stay productive. ( Copilot plus PC experiences vary by device and market and may require updates continuing to roll out through 2025; Recall and Click to Do will be coming to European Economic Area later in 2025; timing varies. See aka.ms/copilotpluspcs)
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- Style and Substance - The Aspire 14 Al boasts a sleek, durable, and lightweight aluminum chassis, with an ultra-modern design and a 180° lie-flat hinge for versatile and convenient use on the go. Ideal for work, study, or creative pursuits wherever you are.
How to tell whether a feature runs locally
Check the feature, not just the PC’s marketing label. For a specific task, verify its supported Windows version and hardware, where the work is processed, and whether the app needs a connection or account.
- Identify the exact task and app. “AI writing” or “AI images” is too broad; one app may use an on-device model while another sends work to a cloud service.
- Check the feature’s hardware support. Look for the relevant API or feature in Microsoft’s Windows AI API support documentation, and confirm that your Windows version and device configuration qualify.
- Check connectivity and account needs. A local model may handle one part of a workflow while another part requires cloud services, internet access, or sign-in. Paint Cocreator, for example, requires internet connectivity.
- Confirm app support. The presence of an NPU or GPU does not establish that a particular app uses it. Check the app’s own feature and system requirements.
- For a Copilot+ feature, confirm the device category and NPU requirement. Microsoft’s 40+ TOPS threshold applies to many Copilot+ AI features, not to every AI application or every possible local model.
What does “local” mean for privacy and offline use?
Local processing means the relevant inference runs on the device rather than being sent to a remote model for that task. It can reduce reliance on a network connection and may improve responsiveness or energy efficiency when software uses the NPU. It is not, by itself, a privacy guarantee: the app may still transmit other data, sync results, or rely on cloud services for parts of its workflow.
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Offline operation is a separate question. Check whether the app states that the particular task works without internet and whether it requires an account, activation, or online safety checks. Microsoft’s documentation explicitly identifies Paint Cocreator as cloud-connected; requirements for other features should be checked individually rather than inferred from the PC’s AI branding.
What to check before choosing an AI PC
If you are selecting a computer for AI workloads, start with the applications and tasks you expect to use. Then verify the exact model and configuration rather than relying on “AI PC” in a listing.
- Feature compatibility: Does the specific Windows feature or app support your device and Windows build?
- Execution hardware: Is processing documented for the NPU, GPU, CPU, or cloud for that task?
- App and runtime support: Does the software actually include or use a local model and accelerator runtime?
- Configuration: Check NPU capability alongside RAM, storage, CPU, GPU, and system configuration; TOPS alone does not establish overall performance.
- Connectivity: Find out whether the workflow needs internet access, a Microsoft account, or cloud services.
Before buying a Copilot+ PC laptop or another computer advertised as an AI PC, confirm the configuration and feature support for your region and intended apps. Microsoft’s category requirements are useful for identifying supported platform features, but they do not guarantee that every application will run locally.
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