Neil Cybart Neil Cybart

Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC Event, It’s All About Apple, A Dystopian Future

Happy Tuesday. We will continue going over tech presentations as they take place. Today’s update will be dedicated to the Microsoft event that occurred yesterday.

Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC Event

One day before kicking off its Build developer conference, Microsoft held a 67-minute live presentation (not livestreamed) at its Washington headquarters that left me with more questions than answers.

Heading into the event, expectations called for Microsoft to have Windows, Surface, and AI news. While all of that ended up being true, the event came across as more of a PC industry pep rally for Windows partners to bring the fight to Apple (the Mac). The event didn’t come across to me as strong or, to be frank, compelling for consumers. Instead, the issues we have previously talked about regarding Microsoft having trouble connecting with consumers came to light.

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Neil Cybart Neil Cybart

Microsoft’s Copilot Event, Microsoft (Quietly) Pulling the Surface Plug, Apple Is Thinking Differently

Hello everyone. Last Thursday, we talked about Amazon's product event. Today, we focus on the Microsoft event that took place last week.

Let's jump right in.


Microsoft’s Copilot Event

For Amazon’s product event, the overall theme was a smarter, more conversational Alexa with the company betting on voice as the medium to push generative AI in the home. Last Thursday, Microsoft held its annual fall event for new products in NYC. A video of the presentation is available here.

Out of the two, Microsoft’s event came across as weaker. Some people wondered if Panos Panay’s surprise departure complicated Microsoft's event plans. It's not clear how much advanced notice Panay provided Microsoft. The event did have the vibe of being thrown together at the last moment. Coming in at only 58 minutes, a good portion of which went to demos and CEO Satya Nadella's opening monologue, the presentation was lean. One wonders why Microsoft even bothered to hold an actual in-person event.

Without Panay's energy, the audience seemed to be asleep for much of the presentation.

An Above Avalon membership is required to continue reading this update. Members can read the full update here. An audio version of this update is available to members who have the podcast add-on attached to their membership. More information about the podcast add-on is found here.

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Above Avalon Membership

Payment is processed and secured by Stripe. Apple Pay and other mobile payment options are accepted. Special Inside Orchard bundle pricing is available for Above Avalon members.

More information about Above Avalon membership, including the full list of benefits and privileges, is available here.

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