Microsoft Unveils Agentic AI Features and Surface Laptop Ultra
Microsoft held an event in San Francisco to showcase its expanding vision for agentic artificial intelligence alongside heavy-duty new hardware.
Radwan AbdulhadiEditor and technology writer
Expanding Agentic AI and Copilot Capabilities
At a recent event detailing its personal computing plans, Microsoft shared its vision for how local AI agents might change how people use their PCs. The company is leaning into a hybrid approach to AI that runs both locally and in the cloud, while positioning Windows as the most secure platform for AI agents. With user permission, Copilot will be capable of carrying out actions based on local files, generating apps and widgets, and running local models while tapping into cloud compute power.
Starting this fall, users will be able to perform thousands of quick actions directly from the Windows search bar in the taskbar. These tasks include toggling dark mode, taking screenshots, adjusting volume, retrieving answers, and sending text messages, transforming search into a Copilot-style chatbot experience. Additionally, Microsoft introduced a "Get Started" tool to help users run AI agents on Windows, including Portable Computer and natively supported apps like Meta's Muse.
Introducing the Surface Laptop Ultra
Microsoft officially revealed the Surface Laptop Ultra, a high-end portable computer designed with creators and developers in mind. Teased earlier this year, the laptop represents the most powerful Surface device released to date. It is built to compete directly with the MacBook Pro, offering a robust selection of ports including USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a full-size SD card reader, alongside a magnetic charging option using a standard USB-C port.
The hardware includes a 15-inch mini-LED display offering up to 2,000 nits of brightness and a 3:2 aspect ratio. The device weighs under 4.5 pounds, measures less than 18mm thick, and features a giant trackpad that is 30 percent larger than the trackpad found on the seventh-generation Surface laptop. Microsoft also incorporated a replaceable SSD and designed the system with repairability in mind.
NVIDIA RTX Spark Power and Gaming Performance
Under the hood, the Surface Laptop Ultra runs on NVIDIA's new Arm-based RTX Spark system-on-a-chip. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang joined Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella during the San Francisco event to discuss the collaboration. The RTX Spark features 20 CPU cores, draws a maximum of 80W, and can be configured with up to 128GB of unified memory. Its neural processing unit satisfies Microsoft's Copilot+ hardware requirements.
The chip's GPU capabilities rival the GeForce RTX 5070, providing support for ray tracing, DLSS, and NVIDIA Reflex. Microsoft demonstrated Gears of War: E-Day running on the Surface Laptop Ultra and confirmed that Call of Duty will arrive on the platform later in the year.
Pricing and Availability
The Surface Laptop Ultra carries a starting price of $2,599. Pre-orders for the laptop opened following the event, with official availability scheduled for October 16. Furthermore, Microsoft announced pricing for the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box, a mini PC aimed at handling heavy AI workloads, which starts at $5,999 with pre-orders currently open.
Sources
- EngadgetEverything announced at Microsoft's Windows and Surface event
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