Windows Central has shared an exclusive report regarding the next version of Windows, which has been described as “groundbreaking” and will lean heavily toward AI features.
Here’s the word from the publication’s Zac Bowden, who learned that this next iteration of the OS, codenamed Hudson Valley, will include an AI-powered Windows Shell, AI-powered upscaler, and more, although most of it will apparently require new NPU (Neural Processing Unit) hardware to function:
Microsoft’s blockbuster new feature will be the introduction of an AI-powered Windows Shell, enhanced with an “advanced Copilot,” that’s able to constantly work in the background to enhance search, jumpstart projects or workflows, understand context, and much more. Sources say these AI features will be “groundbreaking.”
The company is working on a new history/timeline feature that will let users scroll back in time through all the apps and websites that Copilot has remembered, which can be filtered based on a user’s specific search criteria. For example, you could type “FY24 earnings” and every instance where that term was on-screen will reappear for you to see and open.
Hudson Valley will also allow Windows users to search by speaking naturally, as well as include alternatives to existing upscalers like NVIDIA’s RTX Video Super Resolution, including real-time translation:
AI will also enhance search in Windows, with the ability to use natural language to find things that you’ve previously opened or seen on your PC. If you don’t remember the name or contents of a document, the search term “find me the document that Bob sent me on WhatsApp a few days ago” is something search on Windows will actually understand.
Other AI features include something called Super Resolution, which will use NPU hardware to upscale the quality of videos and games. There’s also an enhanced version of Live Captions in the works, which will be able to translate a number of different languages in real time, whether that be from audio in a video or on a live call.
Other features that Microsoft is said to be working on include AI-powered wallpapers (read: photos with motion), an energy-saving feature that could enable power savings of up to 50%, and even a new desktop interface that allows users to move the taskbar to the top of the screen.
Windows Central goes on to say that it’s unclear whether Hudson Valley will be Windows 12, or if Microsoft will continue with the Windows 11 branding.