Although the author relies on other devices for everyday tasks and maintains multiple Copilot+ PCs in the workspace, a single standout capability in these systems prompts a temporary switch from the usual setup, connecting one to the docking station for immediate use.
Adoption of Copilot+ PCs remains low over the past year, limiting awareness of their exclusive AI functionalities tied to the built-in neural processing unit (NPU). These include Windows Recall, enhancements in Paint such as Cocreator, Generative Erase, Object Select, and Sticker Generator, the Click-to-Do shortcut, advanced options in Photos like Super Resolution, Relight, and Restyle Image, smart search tools in Settings, Windows Studio Effects, and Live Captions.
While the editor anticipated enthusiasm for Live Captions due to its practical and innovative appeal, the author favors a different option: the Image Resizer, recently rebranded as Super Resolution.
Background on Copilot+ PCs highlights the initial focus on Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite chips and compatible laptops, with recent expansions to Intel's Core Ultra (Lunar Lake) series and AMD's Ryzen AI 300 models. All these devices leverage the NPU as the core component for AI operations.
Microsoft harnesses the NPU to enable select AI tools on equipped Windows machines. The previously mentioned features demand this hardware, unavailable without a Copilot+ PC; further details are accessible via dedicated resources.
Accompanying visuals are essential for every published piece. Laptop reviews often come with ready imagery, but custom illustrations must adhere to precise size standards. This frequently involves handling minuscule elements, like the Microsoft Store or Copilot icons on the taskbar, where suitable high-resolution versions prove elusive.
Within the Windows Photos application, activating Super Resolution allows users to boost an image's resolution through AI-assisted adjustments that reduce artifacts and enhance clarity. For instance, enlarging the compact OneDrive taskbar icon reveals a progress slider illustrating the improvements.
This functionality excels at transforming low-resolution graphics into usable assets. Basic scaling in Paint can distort small icons, rendering them fuzzy, but Super Resolution effectively sharpens and refines them for professional quality—all at no additional cost.
Beyond icons, Super Resolution suits tasks like enhancing scanned documents or other media. Though not an everyday essential, it proves invaluable in specific scenarios. It falls short of perfection, with premium alternatives like Topaz.ai offering superior results, yet its accessibility and zero cost make it ideal for quick needs.
Live Captions holds less appeal for the author, who consumes limited video content. Occasional foreign series viewing, such as K-dramas on Netflix with a spouse, or international news reading occurs, but social media videos rarely require it, and many services include native subtitles. Doubts about translation precision further diminish its utility.
Despite this, Live Captions retains a sense of futuristic wonder, akin to science fiction innovations, yet practical workflow aids like Super Resolution align better with routine demands.
Microsoft's recent AI integrations create confusion, as certain tools mandate an NPU while others operate independently, without clear user guidance. This inconsistency frustrates navigation. Positively, the company has embedded sophisticated capabilities from programs like Photoshop into native Windows apps, including layer support in Paint.
The Photos app long featured Spot Fix, an initial AI-driven editing aid. The author applies such tools sparingly to uphold reporting standards, preserving authentic details like device smudges. Minor corrections, such as removing dust specks, background blemishes, or trade show distractions, justify occasional use.
Spot Fix efficiently eliminated imperfections, and its successor, Generative Erase, available in both Photos and Paint, advances this further without NPU dependency. Though mobile devices offer on-the-go edits, it's practical for archived files in OneDrive or similar storage.
Microsoft experiments with Generative Fill in Paint, enabling object insertion into images—for example, inserting whimsical elements into personal shots. Unlike other tools, this requires a Copilot+ PC and NPU. Currently, distinguishing available AI options from hardware prerequisites poses a significant hurdle for users.
Mark, a veteran technology journalist, has contributed to PCWorld for ten years, amassing 30 years in the field. His over 3,500 PCWorld pieces span processors, accessories, and Windows developments. He has also written for PC Magazine, Byte, eWEEK, Popular Science, and Electronic Buyers' News, earning a Jesse H. Neal Award for news coverage. Recently, he cleared space by donating numerous Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs from his crowded office.