Microsoft reveals the launch time of Windows 12 Qualcomm, a close partner of Microsoft and a chip manufacturer, has recently disclosed the launch timeframe for the entirely new operating system, Windows 12. Cristiano Amon, the CEO of Qualcomm, revealed information about the Snapdragon X Elite, a chip based on the new generation ARM architecture for personal computers running Windows.
Amon stated that the Snapdragon X Elite chip would be introduced simultaneously with Windows 12, aiming to “anticipate the back-to-school season.” This indicates that Windows 12 is likely to make its debut in the middle of this year.
“The chipset’s launch timing is related to Microsoft’s next version of Windows, incorporating various artificial intelligence features. We, together with Microsoft, have agreed on the product’s launch timing in mid-2024, ready for the back-to-school season,” shared CEO Cristiano Amon.
Qualcomm’s CEO also revealed that Windows 12 would integrate numerous artificial intelligence (AI) features developed by OpenAI. As Microsoft is the largest investor in OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, it is likely to prioritize leveraging the AI capabilities, including the ChatGPT chat software and the AI tool for converting text into images.
The Windows 12 launch timeframe, as revealed by Qualcomm’s CEO, aligns with previous leaks and rumors. Last year, an executive from Intel, another chip manufacturer, also disclosed that Windows 12 would be released in 2024.
In December 2023, The Commercial Times (Taiwan) cited sources close to Microsoft and computer manufacturers in Taiwan, revealing that Windows 12 would be introduced by Microsoft in June 2024.
The Commercial Times’ sources also indicated that Windows 12 would be the first Windows version to focus on artificial intelligence (AI) features, aiming to better support users. This aligns with the current trend where AI has become prevalent in the technology industry.
Chip manufacturers like Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm are prepared to launch new processor generations with integrated Neural Processing Units (NPUs), specialized processors for tasks related to artificial intelligence. NPUs are designed to optimize the processing of AI algorithms, such as artificial neural networks, machine learning, computer vision, etc.
If the leaked information is accurate, Microsoft will introduce Windows 12 just under three years after the launch of Windows 11 on October 5, 2021.
However, even with an early release of Windows 12, Microsoft may face challenges in convincing users to upgrade to the new operating system, especially as Windows 11 has not been widely embraced by users. According to market research by StatCounter, Windows 10 remains the most favored and widely used Windows version, holding a 67.42% market share for Windows-based computers. Windows 11 is in second place with only a 26.54% market share.
It is noteworthy that discontinued Windows versions like Windows 7 and XP still have a considerable user base, with market shares of 3.5% and 0.64%, respectively. This suggests that many users still prefer older Windows versions rather than upgrading to newer ones.
