Yesterday, Microsoft introduced its new Copilot+ computers to the world. These devices launch with Qualcomm’s new ARM chips and promise stunning AI functionality, but what operating system do they use? Microsoft didn’t provide details during the event, but we can now confirm that this is the ARM version for Windows. One that also has a very special component called a prism.

Apple already did the same thing. When the Apple M1s were released, the Cupertino company had a challenge: Its users would be able to continue running “usual” software on their new Macs. This is where Rosetta 2 came into play; An emulation/translation layer that allows x86-execution. 64 code in real time on the new ARM chips of the Apple M1 family.

Nothing from Windows 12. Although it has been rumored for months that Microsoft could use artificial intelligence functions to release a new version called Windows 12, the truth is that the operating system of Copilot+ computers is still Windows 11. Of course: it suffered from significant changes in software that would support both new hardware features and AI functions. In the second half of the year, Windows 11 24H2 will arrive; An update focused on AI functions will undoubtedly also focus on Copilot+ PCs.

Prism is Microsoft’s Rosetta 2. Windows 11 has its own translation or emulation layer that allows x86 applications to run on ARM chips. With the Windows 11 24H2 update coming this fall, this dual emulation/translation technology will have its own name: Prism.

20% faster translation. This technology is also an evolution of previous efforts, and translated apps will run 10% to 20% faster on the same ARM hardware after installing the Windows 11 24H2 update.

Will we notice the difference? The surprising thing about Rosetta 2 was that Apple’s chips were so powerful that even with this intermediate emulation, older macOS x86 applications ran even faster than the Intel chips used in Macs. Microsoft points out that performance with Prism will be similar to Rosetta 2. is offered, but obviously this will depend on the hardware we are comparing native execution to emulated execution. For now, this performance with emulated x86 applications is unknown.

But we need native apps. Rosetta 2 provided a way to give developers time to migrate their applications to native versions of Apple Silicon. Prism’s idea is the same, and the goal is to adapt and release more and more x86 applications to native ARM versions to take full advantage of the new hardware.

ARM application catalog grows. Native versions of various applications are already available: those from Microsoft (Teams, Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.) as well as the Google Chrome browser. Adobe, which already has ARM versions of Photoshop, Lightroom or Firefly, has announced native versions of Premiere Pro and Illustrator for this summer.

in Xataka | Mac Vs War PC seemed to be a thing of the past. about to return