SAN FRANCISCO: Microsoft is set to unveil a new laptop powered by Nvidia chips on Wednesday as it seeks to make Windows a stronger platform for AI agents that can perform tasks such as writing code without relying on cloud services.
Analysts said the move could help Microsoft shift some AI workloads from its costly Azure data centres to powerful Windows computers used by businesses and consumers.
The strategy could also challenge Apple, which is pursuing a similar approach with its latest Mac computers.
Microsoft, Nvidia Target Local AI Computing
For Nvidia, expanding into the Windows PC market could open one of the few major computing markets still dominated by longtime rivals Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD).
Microsoft’s event in San Francisco will focus on updates to Windows and its Surface hardware line.
The event follows years of work between Microsoft and Nvidia to bring advanced AI tasks directly to desktops and laptops.
These tasks include writing computer code and handling complex business projects using Nvidia’s RTX Spark chips, which were announced in June.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang are expected to introduce the new Surface Laptop Ultra at the event.
AI Agents Raise Security Concerns
One of the biggest challenges for Microsoft and Nvidia will be showing that AI agents can operate safely on personal computers.
AI agents are designed to handle complex tasks with limited human input.
Nvidia is already working to prevent security incidents involving AI systems, while Apple is also seeking stronger safeguards for AI agents that can access files and other data on Mac computers.
High Hardware Costs Could Limit Adoption
Analysts said the price of the new devices could become another major challenge.
A shortage of memory chips has pushed up prices for desktop and laptop computers.
When Microsoft first promoted local AI computing two years ago, many of the laptops were priced below $2,000.
However, Nvidia recently raised the price of its DGX Spark AI desktop by around 75% to $6,950.
The increase was linked to rising costs for its 128GB memory configuration.
Anshel Sag, an analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, said higher memory prices were affecting both Microsoft and Apple’s efforts to bring AI processing to personal computers.
“Two years ago, the software wasn’t ready, but the hardware was. Now the software is ready and the hardware is too expensive to actually run it locally,” Sag told Reuters.
He said local AI computing could increasingly become limited to customers with enough money to afford high-end hardware.
