A year ago, Microsoft was hyping its new Copilot+ PCs as the next big thing in technology, a game-changer that would revolutionize how we use computers. But a year later, the numbers tell a different story.
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Shipments of these PCs, which feature a powerful Neural Processing Unit (NPU) with over 40 TOPS of AI power, have been abysmal. In 2024, they accounted for just 0.5% of the total PC market. In the first quarter of 2025, that number only nudged up to 1.9%. It’s a significant flop, and it raises a big question: are AI PCs really the future?
I’m going to dive into why Microsoft’s big gamble hasn’t paid off yet, and why, despite all the problems, these machines are still likely to be a part of your future.
The slow adoption isn’t just about consumer hesitation; it’s a cascade of negative events that has hurt Microsoft’s launch. From premium prices to a confusing feature set and a slow rollout, everything seems to have worked against them.
💸 Why Aren’t People Buying In?
There are a few key reasons for the slow sales. For starters, PC makers slapped premium price points on Copilot+ PCs, making them less appealing than cheaper alternatives. The rollout has also been incredibly slow, with Microsoft’s flagship feature, Recall, being recalled multiple times to address security concerns.
Adding to the confusion, Microsoft hasn’t clearly defined which AI features need a Copilot+ PC and which are available on all Windows computers. For example, some AI art generation uses the cloud on all PCs, while a similar feature in Paint needs a dedicated NPU. As one analyst put it, there just isn’t enough of a reason to spend the money right now.
🔮 The Inevitable Future of AI in PCs
Despite the rocky start, AI PCs are almost certainly inevitable, especially for productivity laptops. The PC chipmakers—Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm—are all betting big on more powerful NPUs, and it’s highly likely that these capabilities will simply become standard in the years to come.
According to IDC, a significant number of “AI PCs” were already sold in 2024, with even more in the first quarter of 2025. These older models with less powerful NPUs show that the market is already moving in this direction. As the industry moves forward, it’s becoming less of a question of ‘if’ and more of ‘when’ everyone will have an NPU in their machine.
The challenge for Microsoft and its partners is to create a compelling use case that convinces customers to make the jump today, rather than waiting for the technology to become a standard feature.
Works Cited
Hachman, Mark. “Microsoft’s Copilot+ gamble is a bust. But AI PCs still feel inevitable.” PCWorld, Aug. 2025, pp. 13-18.
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