A dedicated key I never press
There’s a Copilot key on my ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED. Months into ownership, it might be the most ignored button on the entire keyboard. My Zenbook UM3406 runs on AMD’s Ryzen AI 300 series processor, complete with a neural processing unit (NPU) that delivers up to 50 TOPS of AI performance. That makes it a Copilot+ PC — part of what Microsoft once called the new era for Windows.
AI is already woven into my daily work. I use it for research, brainstorming, and untangling complex ideas. But I don’t reach for Microsoft’s built-in assistant. Instead, I rely on ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. The Copilot key? It collects dust.
What Copilot+ PC actually means
The name “Copilot+ PC” suggests a machine built around Microsoft Copilot. In reality, the certification mostly describes hardware specs and local Windows features. The NPU inside my Zenbook can accelerate experiences like Windows Studio Effects, Live Captions, improved search, and Recall. But the Copilot chatbot itself requires an internet connection. You can run it on a Mac or in a web browser — not just on Windows PCs. Pressing that special key doesn’t summon an assistant powered by the full 50 TOPS NPU sitting inside my laptop.
Microsoft marketed Copilot+ PCs around a grand reinvention of personal computing — local AI changing how we use Windows. The NPU is there, and the badge proves the machine can handle various AI menus. But very few of those menus address problems I actually face.
Recall: useful but not essential
Recall is probably the most practical of the bunch. It saves snapshots of your activity and helps you recover something you previously saw. If you constantly juggle important files or conversations, it can be a lifesaver. Even so, I haven’t needed it badly enough to let Windows build a searchable history of my screen. Live Captions and Studio Effects are handy in the right circumstances. But they remain occasional utilities, not reasons to rethink how I use my notebook.
Why ChatGPT and Claude win my clicks
I already know where to go for my workflows. ChatGPT is my starting point for broad research and working through ideas. Claude enters the picture when I’m dealing with longer passages. Each service has its limitations, but I’ve grown familiar with their quirks and strengths.
Copilot came bundled with my PC. Until recently, I never gave it a real shot. After trying it out, I understand why I initially brushed it off. Microsoft uses the Copilot name across several different products — the consumer assistant, Microsoft 365 Copilot, GitHub Copilot, and various Windows integrations. Figuring out which Copilot does what can require more effort than opening the tool I already trust.
Microsoft reorganized its Copilot teams this year to create a more coherent experience across consumer and commercial products. That move alone suggests the current structure has become difficult to explain.
Copilot everywhere didn’t make it essential
Microsoft tried to solve the adoption problem through visibility. Copilot appeared everywhere — in Windows, Edge, Office, Paint, Notepad, and other parts of the operating system. PC keyboards gained a dedicated key for the first time in decades.
Microsoft has since started removing or reducing some of those entry points. Even hardware partners have acknowledged the disconnect. Dell said consumers buy newer laptops for tangible improvements like performance and battery life, while AI terminology often leaves them confused. That’s also why I picked my Zenbook: a gorgeous OLED display, thin-and-light design, and reliable battery life.
Even those who try it struggle to stick with it
After I covered Copilot’s low uptake, an author emailed me about his own experience. He had used the service extensively while writing a book, yet updates and policy changes sometimes caused it to reject tasks it had previously completed. He now opens Copilot with one question in mind: “Will it or won’t it?”
To be fair, generative AI services change constantly. Refusals can happen across Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. But Copilot carries an additional burden because Microsoft presents it as an integrated productivity assistant. Users expect consistency from a tool built directly into their operating system and work software.
Futureproof or just future hype?
I don’t regret buying the Zenbook. It’s a capable laptop, and the NPU may become increasingly useful as more applications run AI workloads locally. Copilot+ certification also provides some reassurance that the machine meets Microsoft’s current baseline for upcoming Windows features. But that sounds like futureproofing — not being handy right now.
Microsoft might move the baseline higher as systems get more advanced and requirements grow. So for now, I’ll keep using the AI tools that already fit my workflow. Though I’ll be giving Copilot a try more often to see where it really makes a difference for me.
