There is a dedicated Copilot key on my ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED. Months after buying a laptop, it may be one of the most important keys on the entire keyboard. My Zenbook UM3406 uses AMD’s Ryzen AI 300 series processor, complete with a dedicated NPU that offers up to 50 TOPS of AI performance. That qualifies as a Copilot+ PC, making it part of what Microsoft once described as the new era of Windows.
AI is already a regular part of my working day. I use it for research, discussion, and working on ideas. But rather than relying on something built into the Windows OS, I rely on the likes of ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini.
How Copilot+ created the wrong expectation
The term “Copilot+ PC” refers to a computer built into Microsoft Copilot. Basically, the certificate largely describes the local Windows hardware and features. The NPU inside my Zenbook can speed up experiences like Windows Studio Effects, Live Captions, advanced search, and Recall. The Copilot chatbot itself requires an internet connection. So you can use it even on Mac and web browsers, not only on Windows PCs. Pressing a special keyboard key does not open the assistant powered by the entire 50TOPS NPU sitting inside my laptop.
All of the marketing on this one was misrepresenting what Copilot was meant to do. Microsoft is marketing Copilot+ PCs around the great revolution of personal computing, with local AI changing the way we use Windows systems in our daily workflows. The NPU is present, and the badge on the machine proves that it is capable of various AI menus in Windows. But very few face the problem I often encounter.
Remembering is probably the most useful of the group. It can save snapshots of your work and help you recall something you’ve seen before. If you are always dealing with a large number of important files or conversations, this can be a life saver. However, I haven’t needed it badly enough to let Windows create a searchable history of my screen. Live Captions and Studio Effects are also useful in appropriate situations. Although they are still occasional resources there are reasons to rethink how I use my notebook.
Some AI services were very simple
I now know where I have to go to continue my work. ChatGPT is usually the starting point for extensive research and working with ideas, while Claude comes into the picture when I’m dealing with long passages. Each service has its limitations, however, they all know their answers now.
Copilot came bundled with my PC, and until recently, I never really shot it. After trying it now, I can see why I brushed it off in the first place. Microsoft uses the Copilot name for many different products, including its consumer assistant, Microsoft 365 Copilot, GitHub Copilot, and various Windows integrations. Knowing which Copilot does what would require more effort than opening a tool I just trust.
Microsoft reorganized its Copilot teams this year to create a consistent experience across all consumer and commercial products. That movement alone suggests that the current structure is difficult to define.
Placing Copilot everywhere didn’t make it worth it
Microsoft has tried to solve the discovery problem with visibility. Copilot is visible everywhere, in Windows, Edge, Office, Paint, Notepad, and other parts of the operating system. PC keyboards got a dedicated key for the first time in decades.
Microsoft has begun removing or reducing some of those entry points. Even Microsoft’s hardware partners agreed to the cutoff. Dell said consumers were buying new laptops for tangible improvements like performance and battery life, and AI terms often left them confused. This is also one of the reasons why I chose my laptop. Beautiful OLED display, small and light design, and reliable battery life.
Even those who have tried find it hard to stick
After I mentioned Copilot’s slow take, the author emailed me about his experience. He used the service extensively while writing the book, however updates and policy changes sometimes caused it to reject jobs he had previously completed. He said he now opens Copilot with one question in mind: “Will it or won’t it?”
To be fair, AI generating services are constantly changing, and opt-outs are possible across Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. However, Copilot carries more responsibility because Microsoft presents it as an integrated productivity assistant. This means that users expect consistency from a tool built right into their operating system and work software.
Is this really future proof?
I don’t regret buying the Zenbook. It’s a capable laptop, and the NPU may come in handy as more applications use AI workloads locally. Copilot+ certification also provides assurance that the device meets Microsoft’s current baseline for future Windows features. But that just sounds more like protecting the future than being helpful right now.
And Microsoft may just move the base up as systems get more advanced and needs grow. So for now, I’ll continue to use the AI tools that already fit my workflow. Although I will be trying Copilot more often to see where it makes a difference for me.
