Microsoft announced the Surface Laptop Ultra, the RTX Spark Dev Box, and new AI-driven features for Windows 11 at its latest hardware event.
Key facts
- •The Surface Laptop Ultra begins shipping on October 16 and is available for pre-order.
- •The RTX Spark Dev Box features a design reminiscent of the Xbox Series X.
- •Hybrid Intelligence allows Copilot to run prompts against models stored directly on a user's computer.
- •New Windows 11 features allow users to converse with Copilot directly through the taskbar without launching a separate app.
- •The Surface Laptop Ultra was originally teased in May 2026.
Microsoft held its first live event in two years on Wednesday in San Francisco, introducing new hardware and software updates centered on artificial intelligence. The company unveiled the Surface Laptop Ultra and the RTX Spark Dev Box, both powered by Nvidia's new RTX Spark system-on-a-chip. Additionally, Microsoft announced upcoming Windows 11 updates that integrate AI capabilities directly into the operating system's interface.
By the numbers
New Surface Hardware and AI Performance
The Surface Laptop Ultra, which starts at $2,599, is designed for both developers and home users. It utilizes the Nvidia RTX Spark SoC, offering configurations with up to 128GB of unified memory and either a 5120-core or 6144-core Blackwell GPU. Microsoft claims the laptop's memory allocation allows it to handle AAA gaming and local AI development. For professional developers, Microsoft introduced the $5,999 Surface RTX Spark Dev Box. This compact, anodized aluminum unit is pre-configured for AI development and is capable of one petaflop of AI compute performance. The device features a design with 1,000 chassis air vents, a detail intended to represent its 1,000 teraflops of performance.
Windows 11 AI Integration and Hybrid Intelligence
Starting this fall, Windows 11 will feature a redesigned Search Menu that functions as a chatbot, allowing users to execute commands across the operating system. Pavan Davuluri, Microsoft's executive vice president of Windows and Devices, demonstrated how users can adjust settings or send text messages via the Task Bar. The interface is designed to be more contextual, providing visual feedback like volume sliders when users input specific requests. Microsoft also introduced Hybrid Intelligence, a suite of tools enabling PCs to run AI models locally. This allows the Copilot app to access local files and perform tasks while maintaining privacy or reducing cloud reliance. For developers, the system includes Microsoft Execution Containers (MXC) to securely sandbox local AI agents.
Timeline
- May 2026Microsoft originally teased the Surface Laptop Ultra.
- WednesdayMicrosoft held its first live event in two years to announce new hardware and software.
- October 16The Surface Laptop Ultra is scheduled to begin shipping.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Engadget, Ars Technica.
