Glossary
Copilot+ PC
A Copilot+ PC is a class of Windows 11 hardware with a neural processing unit (NPU) that Microsoft says can run at 40 or more trillion operations per second. Some newer Windows AI features, including fluid dictation, require this hardware.
Updated October 16, 20264 cited facts, each traced to its source
Also called Copilot Plus PC.
A Copilot+ PC is a Windows 11 computer with a neural processing unit (NPU) fast enough to run AI features on the device. Microsoft describes Copilot+ PCs as a new class of Windows 11 hardware powered by a high-performance Neural Processing Unit 1. The label describes the hardware, not the Copilot app.
The NPU is the defining hardware
The threshold is a performance number. Microsoft says many of the new Windows AI features require an NPU that can run at 40 or more trillion operations per second (TOPS) 2. A TOPS figure is a peak rate for the chip. It tells you how much AI work the NPU can do each second, not how fast a given app will respond.
Because the label is tied to hardware, check the device's specification rather than only its Windows version. Two PCs on the same Windows 11 update can differ in whether they carry the label.
Which dictation feature needs one
The dictation feature tied to Copilot+ PCs is fluid dictation. Microsoft describes fluid dictation as a feature of Copilot+ PCs, so it is not available on every Windows 11 PC 3. Microsoft says fluid dictation is powered by on-device small language models that run for fast and private processing 4.
Example: two PCs, one Windows version
Two laptops can run the same Windows 11 update. One has an NPU at 40 TOPS or more and can show fluid dictation. The other has no NPU and cannot. The hardware decides which one gets the feature, so the update alone does not settle it.
Why it matters for dictation
On-device processing is the reason the Copilot+ label matters for privacy. Models that run on the PC do not need to send your speech to a server for that step. The label describes the hardware, though, not every dictation feature. Read the page for each feature to see what runs on the device and what needs a connection before you rely on offline use.
Related terms
- Neural processing unit (NPU): the chip that defines the class.
- Phi Silica: a Microsoft on-device model that runs on the NPU of Copilot+ PCs.
- Fluid dictation: the cleanup feature that Copilot+ PCs add to Windows voice typing.
Guides that cover it
Evidence
Every number on this page, with where it comes from. Open a fact to see the exact words in its source.
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Related terms
- Dictation on Windows: Voice Typing, Voice Access, AppsThe topic this term belongs to
- Azure AI SpeechAzure AI Speech is Microsoft's cloud speech service. Microsoft now calls it Azure Speech in Foundry Tools, and its speech to text powers the online recognition behind Windows voice typing, which needs an internet connection.
- Fluid dictationFluid dictation is a Windows feature on Copilot+ PCs that corrects grammar, punctuation and filler words as you speak. Microsoft says it is powered by small language models that run on the device, and that you can undo a correction by saying Revert or Undo that.
- Neural processing unit (NPU)A neural processing unit (NPU) is a specialized chip for AI-intensive processes, such as real-time translation and image generation. Microsoft says many new Windows AI features require an NPU that can run at 40 or more trillion operations per second, and a speech model can run faster on one.
- Number and grid overlays (Voice Access)Number and grid overlays are Voice Access views for clicking things you cannot name. Show numbers puts a number on each clickable item so you can say it, and Show grid divides the screen into numbered tiles that narrow the mouse pointer step by step.
- Online speech recognitionOnline speech recognition sends your voice to a cloud service that turns it into text, instead of processing it on your PC. Microsoft says voice typing on Windows uses online speech recognition, which Microsoft describes as giving more accurate recognition.
- Phi SilicaPhi Silica is Microsoft's on-device language model, which runs on the neural processing unit of Copilot+ PCs. Microsoft says it is being replaced by Aion Instruct, and its voice typing help names it as the download to watch while fluid dictation gets ready.
- Speech pack (Windows)A speech pack is the set of on-device language files that Windows needs before it can recognize speech in a language offline. Microsoft says you must download a speech pack for a language in Voice access before you can use it, and the first download needs an internet connection.
- Voice Access (Windows)Voice Access is the Windows 11 feature that lets you control the whole PC and write text by voice, not only dictate. Microsoft says it works without an internet connection after setup, and it replaces Windows Speech Recognition.
- Voice typing launcherThe voice typing launcher is the Windows voice typing setting that lets you start dictation quickly when the cursor is in a text box. Microsoft lists it among the settings you open from the gear icon in the voice typing flyout.
- Windows key + H (Win+H)Windows key + H, written Win+H, is the keyboard shortcut that starts voice typing in Windows, so you can dictate into the text box where your cursor is. Microsoft says it does not start voice typing while Voice Access is running.
- Windows on ArmWindows on Arm is Windows running on processors that use the Arm instruction set instead of x86 or x64 chips. It runs native Arm apps and many unmodified x86 and x64 apps, and Microsoft says Arm-native apps give the best performance and battery life.
- Windows Speech API (SAPI)The Windows Speech API (SAPI) is Microsoft's interface that lets Windows apps use speech recognition and text-to-speech without building the speech engine themselves. Windows.Media.SpeechRecognition is a separate API for command and control in Windows Runtime apps.
Pages that use this term
- Dictation on Windows: Voice Typing, Voice Access, AppsTopic
- Windows Voice Typing: How to Dictate with Win+HGuide
- How to Turn On Voice Typing on Every DeviceGuide
- Voice Access in Windows 11: Setup and How It WorksGuide
- Windows Dictation Languages: Voice Typing and Voice AccessGuide
- Copilot Voice and Dictation on WindowsGuide
- Fluid Dictation, Copilot+ PCs and Windows on ArmGuide
- Is Windows Voice Access free?Question
- What is fluid dictation in Windows 11?Question
- What settings does Voice Access have in Windows 11?Question
- Neural processing unit (NPU)Glossary
- Phi SilicaGlossary
- Windows on ArmGlossary