We anticipate the launch of the next Windows iteration, informally referred to as Windows ’12’ will happen next year.
For those not abreast of Windows 12 leaks and speculation, the upcoming operating system is purportedly set to debut in 2024, as per earlier reports.
A recent disclosure by Taiwan’s Commercial Times (CTEE) corroborates these rumors, asserting that Microsoft plans to unveil Windows (12) in June 2024, coinciding with the introduction of a diverse array of AI-driven PCs. This timeframe aligns closely with Computex 2024.
While the report lacks direct quotations, it attributes this information to statements reportedly made by Quanta Chairman Lin Baili and Acer Chairman and CEO Chen Junsheng during the Taiwan Medical Technology Exhibition.
Acer, a well-known PC manufacturer globally, is recognized in the US, UK, Canada, and other parts of the world.
On the other hand, Quanta Computer, based in Taiwan, focuses on producing PCs, including notebooks and other electronic hardware.
The choice of Taiwan as the source for this report is logical, given the region’s prominence in activities such as the manufacturing and assembly of computer components and PC hardware.
Beyond Quanta and Acer, earlier this year, a senior Intel executive hinted at a “Windows refresh” in 2024 without specifying whether it pertained to Windows 12 or a feature update to Windows 11.
The reference to AI-based PCs alongside Windows 12 aligns with Microsoft’s recent emphasis on AI features like Copilot. While not explicitly mentioned in the report, it’s plausible that Microsoft and its hardware partners, such as AMD, Intel, and Nvidia, might recommend systems equipped with dedicated AI-accelerating hardware.
This recommendation could be in line with Microsoft’s previous collaboration with AMD at CES 2023, where they highlighted the advantages of such hardware.
However, it is unlikely that such hardware will become a mandatory system requirement for next-gen Windows, as the majority of current PCs lack both AMD’s Ryzen AI technology and Intel’s NPU (neural processing unit) / VPU (vision processing unit).
Whatever the case, it seems like 2024 will be an interesting year for the Windows product line.
