# Microsoft Copilot: Hardware integration and software updates > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/microsoft-copilot-and-local-ai-hardware-integration > Updated: 2026-09-25T06:01:18.000Z. Sources: 60. Developments: 3. Microsoft has expanded its Copilot branding across consumer applications, Microsoft 365 productivity tools, and a new category of hardware called Copilot+ PCs. These specialized PCs utilize built-in Neural Processing Units (NPUs) to facilitate local AI processing, which can reduce reliance on cloud connectivity and enhance data privacy. While Intel has introduced NPUs into its Core Ultra 200S series desktop processors, current performance levels, such as the 13 TOPS offered by the Core Ultra 9 285K, remain below the 40 TOPS threshold required by Microsoft for the Copilot+ PC designation. Microsoft has unveiled a major overhaul of its Copilot AI platform, transitioning it from a conversational assistant into a comprehensive workplace ecosystem structured around three core pillars: Home, Code, and Autopilot. The Home tab serves as a central hub, integrating conversational Chat with ‘Cowork’, a feature designed for delegating complex, multi-step tasks such as financial reporting or proposal preparation. This interface also features deep integration with Microsoft 365, allowing users to create and edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents directly within the Copilot environment. The Code tab enables users to build applications, dashboards, and automated workflows using natural language. Powered by GitHub Copilot technology, it operates within a secure, sandboxed environment called the ‘Copilot Managed Runtime’. Autopilot, formerly known as Scout, introduces proactive AI agents that function as persistent digital teammates. These agents can execute tasks autonomously in the cloud—such as monitoring communication channels or managing recurring processes—even when the user is offline. To support these advanced capabilities, Microsoft is introducing a usage-based billing model for specialized features like Autopilot and Code. The rollout will begin via the Microsoft Frontier program, with Home and Code features arriving in the coming weeks and Autopilot entering private preview later this month. ## Claims - Autopilot is scheduled to expand to private preview at the end of the month. (disputed by 8 sources) - Autopilot is currently in a restricted private preview for enterprise customers. (disputed by 7 sources) - The Code tab uses GitHub Copilot technology to allow non-engineers to build apps, dashboards, and automation via natural language. (corroborated by 28 sources) - Microsoft is launching a unified Copilot desktop app featuring three core capabilities: Home, Code, and Autopilot. (corroborated by 26 sources) - The Autopilot feature, formerly known as Scout, acts as a persistent digital teammate that can perform tasks autonomously in the cloud. (corroborated by 25 sources) - The Office in Copilot feature allows users to create and edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents directly within the app. (corroborated by 24 sources) - The Home tab integrates conversational Chat with Cowork, a feature for delegating complex, multi-step tasks. (corroborated by 23 sources) - Microsoft is unifying its AI branding by merging Microsoft 365 Copilot and consumer Copilot under the single name 'Copilot'. (corroborated by 17 sources) - The Home and Code features will roll out via the Microsoft Frontier program in the coming weeks. (corroborated by 9 sources) - Microsoft is shifting Autopilot, Code, and Cowork to usage-based billing instead of a flat rate. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Autopilot is a cloud-hosted agent that operates with its own identity, permissions, and audit logs. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The Autopilot feature allows users to assign the agent a name, role, and goal. (corroborated by 3 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-25: Microsoft unveils redesigned Copilot platform with Home, Code, and Autopilot Microsoft is transforming Copilot into an agentic work platform with three new pillars: Home for task delegation, Code for natural-language app building, and Autopilot for autonomous background agents. 54 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/microsoft-unveils-unified-copilot-app-with-home-code-and-autopilot ### 2026-09-21: Local AI and NPU integration in Windows PCs Local AI on Windows PCs offers improved data privacy by processing tasks on-device. While Intel's new desktop NPUs provide efficient workload offloading, they currently fall short of Microsoft's Copilot+ PC AI' 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/local-ai-and-npu-integration-in-windows-pcs ### 2026-09-18: Microsoft Copilot encompasses various AI tools and hardware Microsoft offers various Copilot iterations, including a consumer chat app, Microsoft 365 integrations, and Copilot+ PC hardware featuring local AI processing via NPUs. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/microsoft-copilot-encompasses-various-ai-tools-and-hardware --- Cite as: Microsoft Copilot: Hardware integration and software updates. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/microsoft-copilot-and-local-ai-hardware-integration