Although Windows 11 may seem new, Microsoft is not resting and is already working on the next version of its operating system, which should be launched as Windows 12. Although there are few official details at the moment, the leaks allow us to sketch a fairly rough sketch of the peculiarities that this OS will have.
Microsoft is working on Windows 12 under the codename "Hudson Valley." This version should arrive next year and has a commitment to Artificial Intelligence as the core of the experience.
New Windows available in 2024
The next major version of the operating system is expected to land on supported hardware in the second half of 2024, presumably in the fall. This Windows 24H2 is the result of Redmond's return to a three-year development cycle for the main version.
As in the case of Windows 11, new functions are subsequently added to it every few months with periodic updates that also add corrections and security patches. In W11 it is done through updates called "Moments" and we have already had a couple of them in 2023, with the most recent this June.
When Windows 12 launches in 2024, Microsoft will continue adding new features and quality-of-life updates over a three-year cycle, until Windows 13 is ready in 2027, and so on.
This new version could significantly increase the minimum requirements again. When Windows 11 was released, Microsoft significantly increased system requirements, making most existing W10 PCs ineligible for the OS upgrade. Something so severe is not expected, but it is assumed that the minimum RAM memory will be 8 GB with Windows 12
Big bet on Artificial Intelligence
We could see some features (mainly focused on Artificial Intelligence) limited to newer PCs with an NPU or GPU that can handle on-device AI processing, as the next version of Windows is said to focus heavily on the capabilities of AI, and not all PCs will be able to handle that functionality without dedicated hardware.
Following the investment in OpenAI, which has brought GPT-4 features to Bing, Microsoft has already said that the next version of Windows will focus on AI experiences. So far, Windows 11 already supports AI effects in camera and microphone, enabled by a dedicated neural processing unit (NPU).
This type of functionality is expected to expand with Windows 12, including the ability for Windows to analyze on-screen content and provide contextual prompts to drive projects or apps based on the information you're currently viewing. Windows can also identify objects and text within images and allow the user to easily cut and paste those elements elsewhere.
Microsoft will also bring its own AI Copilot to Windows 11, which uses cloud processing to process a large language model that can answer complex questions and queries, as well as analyze on-screen content and provide useful information about it.
Last year, a brief cut during the Microsoft Ignite 2022 keynote revealed a new user interface that had never been seen before. Apparently, this is an early prototype of the UI that will be shown in Windows 12. The interface is quite different from the one we have in Windows 11, with system buttons such as the system tray, search bar, and weather icon, which were moved to the top of the screen, leaving only pinned and running apps floating in a bar at the bottom of the screen.
Other UI updates and features in the works include a new lock and login screen that's more optimized for touch, a new notification center that can group notifications by person as well as by app, and the ability to Pin widgets directly to the desktop.
