Artificial Intelligence

Copilot+ PCs Offer Fast, Powerful AI to Boost Faculty Members’ Productivity

On-device artificial intelligence and custom applications drive efficiency in teaching, research and administrative work.

Amy Burroughs

Amy Burroughs is an award-winning writer specializing in journalism, content marketing and business communications.

When Microsoft introduced its Copilot+ PCs in mid-2024, the launch signaled a new era of devices built specifically to support artificial intelligence. From powerful neural processing units (NPUs) to new AI applications, the devices offer higher education faculty a compelling benefit: the ability to optimize time and reduce cognitive load.

“All of us are being asked to do more with less,” says Dale Perrigo, the director of Windows in the Education for the U.S. and Canada for Microsoft. “And in higher ed, research is important. There’s often that element of competing with other universities. Being able to address this productivity challenge is key.”

The NPU on a Copilot+ PC can handle upward of 40 trillion operations per second, the base requirement for on-device AI workloads, says Rob McGilvrey, Microsoft’s Americas director for Windows Commercial.

Another differentiator is Windows AI Foundry, a built-in framework that supports both local and hybrid AI applications. Together, the NPU and Windows AI Foundry allow new, out-of-the-box capabilities, McGilvrey says.

EXPLORE: Microsoft Copilot+ PC can support your university’s AI applications.

Microsoft’s Recall feature lets instructors find files and settings on their PCs quickly using natural language search. For teaching online, Live Captions can automate real-time transcription, while Studio Effects in Microsoft Teams provides auto-framing and eye contact correction. In addition, Microsoft has partnered with vendors to develop applications that optimize Copilot+ PCs’ NPUs, enhancing their speed and performance.

Higher education instructors are increasing their adoption of generative AI, according to a 2025 survey by Tyton Partners. The survey found that 30% of instructors use GenAI daily or weekly, up from 4% in 2023, and 71% say such tools have reduced the time they spend developing course content and materials. Instructors also reported using GenAI to grade assignments, provide tailored feedback and communicate with students more efficiently.

Copilot+ PCs Offer a Platform for Off-the-Shelf and Custom Apps

One of the most significant benefits of Copilot+ PCs is their flexibility and ability to serve as a powerful platform for applications, says Perrigo. That includes out-of-the-box applications; commercial applications, such as Adobe, that vendors have optimized for Copilot+ PCs; and custom applications that institutions develop and tie into the PCs’ NPUs.

For instance, Microsoft Learning Zone is a Windows application built for Copilot+ PCs that lets instructors generate personalized activities for students. While tailored to K–12 education, it’s also suited to many entry-level college courses, Perrigo says.

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“Learning Zone will build the lesson plan and a quiz based on the lesson plan,” he says.

Using Copilot+ PCs to enhance custom apps, however, is “the sweet spot” for many institutions, he adds.

“Every university I know has their own custom apps, whether for expense reporting or class scheduling or research,” Perrigo says. “If those apps tie into the NPU, they’re going to run faster and potentially be able to run offline, depending on whether they need to update web data. Now, you can build an ecosystem of apps at the university, and professors can have an ecosystem of apps for their field.”

DISCOVER: What is an artificial intelligence PC and does institution need it?

On-Device AI Lets Researchers Work Securely From Anywhere

For research faculty, Copilot+ PCs enable local AI running on the device, which provides several advantages, Perrigo says. It allows researchers to leverage powerful AI without uploading sensitive or proprietary data to a cloud-based platform. (That’s also a benefit for protecting students’ private data and complying with regulations such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.)

In addition, on-device AI gives researchers the flexibility to work even when they lack internet connectivity, says Perrigo. He points to research in disciplines such as engineering, environmental science or archaeology, where faculty often may be in the field.

That productivity differentiator can make a difference when universities are striving to remain competitive in research, he adds.

LEARN MORE: How to create a seamless hybrid classroom experience on campus and off.

The breadth of AI capabilities in Copilot+ PCs makes them suitable for a wide range of use cases depending on each instructor’s needs, Perrigo says. Some instructors may get the most benefit from smart-assistant support, such as tasking AI with writing emails and meeting summaries. Others may leverage AI for lesson planning and course management.

Every faculty member has mundane tasks they would like help with, and the goal is to identify those places where Copilot+ PCs could be most impactful, Perrigo says. In an era of doing more with less, the devices are platforms users can tailor to their individual needs.

“It’s very personal,” Perrigo says. “Look for the places in the workflow where you would need the most help and then jump in there. For Professor A and Professor B, that might be totally different, and that’s fine.”