LectureMaster
Or is it just one of Adam's balls in my throat?
Windows 12 Reportedly Set for Release This Year as a Fully Modular, Subscription-Based, AI-Focused OS
Reports suggest that Microsoft may be gearing up to launch Windows 12 this year, which will be a modular and AI-focused OS.
tech4gamers.com
As PCWorld's new report goes, the new OS, codenamed 'Hudson Valley Next,' is set to release later this year, right around the time when Windows 10's support ends.
The modular aspect of the OS is Microsoft's CorePC architecture project that they've been working on for years. It will redefine the Windows experience by allowing the addition and removal of components. This will help customise the OS for each build, whether it's a lighter-weight system, a gaming-prioritised build, etc.
Generally, Windows 12 will be a much more adaptive and customizable OS than any of its past versions. Visually, we may also see a major leap, as a new visual layout is expected to include transparent glass elements and a floating taskbar.
Unfortunately, these are the only bright sides to this new OS. Microsoft's Copilot, the AI assistant the company has been aggressively injecting across the ecosystem, will now be a core part of the next Windows iteration rather than a supplementary feature.
Some parts of the OS might also be locked away behind a subscription model that are expected to be "advanced AI services", etc.
These AI features won't come cheaply, with Windows 12 set to debut a new hardware requirement just as its predecessor did with the TPM 2.0 requirement. This time around, a dedicated NPU would be required, a specialized processor designed to handle AI tasks.
NPUs are still early-stage chips and not widely adopted across all systems. This requirement will lock out millions of PC owners from updating to Microsoft's next OS, but fortunately, Windows 11 support will last for another few years.