Tom Warren

Microsoft and Nvidia launched RTX Spark laptops featuring Arm-based chips instead of traditional x64 architecture from AMD and Intel. The new platform combines Nvidia's GPU technology with Arm processors designed for AI workloads. Microsoft has undertaken significant optimization work to prepare Windows for these machines, marking a shift in how the operating system handles non-traditional processor architectures.

Microsoft announced its third-generation Maia 300 AI chip today, positioning it as the primary inference system for its cloud products and services. The chip will begin production rollout in 2027 and delivers 40 percent more tokens per megawatt than leading GPU-based systems, reducing Microsoft's dependence on Nvidia hardware for AI workloads. Maia 300 is designed to handle both latest reasoning models and agentic tasks while improving cost and efficiency.

Microsoft is expanding access to AI-powered Office features in Microsoft 365 Family and Premium subscriptions, allowing up to five additional users on a plan to share Copilot and AI usage benefits alongside Office apps and OneDrive storage. Previously, only the primary account holder could access these AI features. The change rolls out over the coming months to Family and Premium subscribers.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella presented a strategic rethink of Copilot to enterprise customers at an invite-only event, positioning the AI assistant as the 'OS for work.' The company is integrating coding and agent capabilities directly into Copilot while bringing the full power of Office into the platform for the first time. Nadella is framing this shift as comparable to how Microsoft Office transformed work in the 1980s and 1990s.

Microsoft officially launched its redesigned Copilot app, consolidating three AI capabilities into a single interface with tabs for Home, Code, and Autopilot. The company rebranded Scout, its AI personal assistant unveiled at Build 2026, as Autopilot as part of the launch. The Home tab combines Copilot Chat and Cowork, with a new Today feature serving as a personalized dashboard. Microsoft positions this bundled approach as potentially as influential as Office.

Microsoft published a 37-page 'humanist AI code of conduct' today, asserting that 'people matter more than AI' and rejecting the notion that AI models should imitate consciousness or pursue legal personhood. The move follows recent warnings from researchers and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei that AI development progress may be outpacing the industry's ability to safely deploy and control increasingly complex systems.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella opened Build 2026 with Windows as a centerpiece, unveiling the Surface RTX Spark Dev Kit alongside Nvidia's return to Windows on Arm with new RTX Spark chips. The hardware is positioned to enable local AI workloads on PCs. This marks a notable shift in Microsoft's Build conference priorities, though the keynote did not address specific Windows 11 issues the company is working to resolve.

Microsoft has launched Scout, an always-on AI personal assistant built on OpenClaw technology that integrates across Microsoft 365 applications including Outlook, OneDrive, and Teams. Unlike the existing Copilot offering, Scout functions as a dedicated personal assistant with broader capabilities, handling tasks such as calendar organization, expense reporting, and email drafting. The move mirrors Google's similar approach to deploying OpenClaw-based assistants in enterprise productivity tools.

Microsoft announced Majorana 2, the next generation of its topological quantum chip, claiming qubits that are 1,000 times more reliable than its predecessor Majorana 1. The advancement uses a new material stack and represents progress toward making quantum computing more practical. The announcement follows skepticism from physicists about Microsoft's initial quantum computing claims last year.

Nvidia has officially retired its GeForce Control Panel application after 20 years of service, completing a transition that began over two years ago. The company has migrated all actively supported features to its newer Nvidia App for Game Ready and Studio Driver users. RTX PRO users will continue to have access to the Control Panel, indicating a phased retirement approach based on user segment.

Microsoft is launching the Surface Pro 12 and Surface Laptop 8 with Intel's Core Ultra Series 3 processors, reversing its previous strategy of prioritizing Arm-based models. The new devices are available for business customers starting at $1,949.99 for the Surface Pro 12, with consumer Snapdragon X2 variants expected later in 2026. This marks a shift in Microsoft's hardware refresh cycle, with Intel chips arriving first this generation rather than months after Arm alternatives.

Microsoft is testing a new Windows 11 feature called Low Latency Profile that improves app launch times and menu responsiveness by ramping up CPU frequency in short bursts, similar to how macOS optimizes performance. Testers over the past week have reported noticeable speed improvements when launching File Explorer, the Start menu, and applications like Outlook, Microsoft Store, and Paint. The feature remains unannounced but is actively being evaluated in Windows 11 test builds.

Microsoft is launching a specialized AI agent within Word designed specifically for legal teams to handle contract review, document negotiation, and clause-by-clause analysis. Rather than relying on general-purpose AI models, the Legal Agent follows structured workflows based on actual legal practice, managing defined and repeatable tasks. The tool integrates with existing Word documents and tracked changes, positioning Microsoft to capture workflow adoption within enterprise legal departments.

Microsoft is rolling out Agent Mode across Word, Excel, and PowerPoint this week, a more capable evolution of its Copilot experience that can now take direct action within documents rather than just answer questions. The feature, previously referred to internally as 'vibe working,' addresses a limitation of earlier Copilot versions where foundation models lacked the power to execute commands on the canvas. Microsoft executives acknowledge that early Copilot deployments were passive partners in documents, unable to act on user requests directly. The rollout targets businesses that have been slow to adopt AI-assisted productivity tools.