AZ-204 education - Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure Updated: 2023

In the last two years, Windows 11 has ushered in significant updates for most of Windows' built-in apps, and things like the system tray, Start menu, Settings app, and taskbar have continuously evolved with each new update. But few of these changes have been made available for Windows 10, which is still, by every publicly available metric, the most-used version of Windows on the planet. (Notable exceptions include the redesigned Outlook app and continued development of Microsoft Edge.)

Today, the company is making a major exception: The new AI-powered Windows Copilot feature from Windows 11 is being backported to Windows 10 and will be available in the Windows Insider Release Preview channel for Windows 10. This version of Copilot, which will be branded as a preview at first, will be available for the Home and Pro versions of Windows 10. But it won't be available for the "managed" versions of Windows 10 just yet—Enterprise and Education editions, as well as Pro PCs that are joined to a domain or are otherwise managed by an IT department.

"We are hearing great feedback on Copilot in Windows (in preview) and we want to extend that value to more people," writes Microsoft in a separate blog post. "For this reason, we are revisiting our approach to Windows 10 and will be making additional investments to make sure everyone can get the maximum value from their Windows PC including Copilot in Windows (in preview)."

The Windows 10 version of Copilot will require a PC with 4GB of RAM and at least a 720p display to run; all Windows 11 PCs meet these requirements, so Microsoft didn't need to define these minimums before now. The feature will roll out to North American users and those in "parts of Asia and South America" first and then to other countries "over time."

Microsoft's blog post is a bit light on what Copilot for Windows 10 can actually do. The Windows 11 version can change various system settings and work with documents stored on your PC; the screenshot Microsoft has shared of the Windows 10 version looks mostly focused on Bing Chat-style, ChatGPT-powered text generation.

The Windows 10 November preview update that includes Copilot also makes a few other small changes, including a long list of bug fixes. It also includes Windows 11's "get the latest updates as soon as they're available" toggle in Windows Update, which when enabled will install preview updates automatically rather than making you do it manually.

Though this is the biggest update that Microsoft has released for Windows 10 since Windows 11 replaced it in late 2021, it doesn't change anything about Windows 10's broader support timeline. Version 22H2 remains the last major update available for the OS, and security updates are still scheduled to end on October 14, 2025, less than two years from today. Microsoft representatives avoided answering questions about Windows 10's persistently high usage and the number of PCs that would be unable to upgrade, only saying that Windows 11 adoption was exceeding Microsoft's internal targets.

Though some of those PCs will be able to upgrade to Windows 11 to continue getting security updates, the newer operating system's more stringent system requirements leave a substantial chunk of Windows 10 PCs behind. It's not clear just how many PCs that is, but Windows 11's adoption has slowed in accurate months and Windows 10 is still by far the most-used version of the operating system.

Even though Windows 10's end-of-support date is creeping up on us, it's easy to see why Microsoft is extending Copilot support to the older OS. According to Statcounter data for US PCs and devices worldwide, Windows 10 still accounts for over two-thirds of active Windows installs. These users can access some AI functions via the version of Copilot that's built into Microsoft Edge, but Edge only accounts for around 10 percent of all desktop browsing in the US.

Extending Copilot to Windows 10 is a way to get the service in front of many users who otherwise wouldn't access it. And for better or worse, that's been Microsoft's strategy for 2023: casting as wide a net as possible with its AI efforts, getting them in as many of its products as possible as quickly as possible.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced Microsoft will invest billions of dollars to expand its data center footprint in Mount Pleasant. This move will bring significant benefits to both the local community and the entire state.

Microsoft’s investment is a testament to Wisconsin’s economic strengths, which include a skilled workforce, excellent power and internet infrastructure, and outstanding educational facilities. Other advantages are startup attraction and development through Titletown Tech and multifaceted investments in computer science education programs.

“Wisconsin’s strengths in workforce, infrastructure, and educational opportunities make it a great place for Microsoft to invest and grow our cloud services. We thank the Governor for his leadership and look forward to continuing to bring positive economic impact to the state and its residents,” said Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith.

The announcement follows Microsoft’s decision earlier this year to invest $1 billion to construct multiple data centers in Mount Pleasant. In response to Microsoft’s commitment, Gov. Evers signed bipartisan legislation in the 2023-25 biennial budget designed to put the state in a more competitive position for data center investments.

Wisconsin’s recent designation as a Regional Tech Hub also acted as a catalyst for the decision to develop in the state. Microsoft will continue to invest in Wisconsin’s future to support the state and develop Wisconsin as a focal point for cloud computing.

“The addition of Microsoft to our state’s portfolio of blue-chip companies is a huge win for Wisconsin,” said WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes. “The data center they are building in Mount Pleasant represents an amazing opportunity for our entire state.”

Mount Pleasant and Racine County officials and their economic development partners, including Milwaukee 7 (M7) and the Racine County Economic Development Corporation, were key to the state securing Microsoft’s investment, the governor said. Microsoft plans to construct additional data centers in Mount Pleasant’s Tax Incremental District, which is located off Interstate 94 in Southeast Wisconsin. The company will purchase the portions of the district known as Area 2 and all of Area 3, subject to an agreement with the Village of Mount Pleasant and Racine County.

An online version of this release is available here.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been Tested for its accuracy or completeness.

Eileen Hulme: In accurate decades, college tuition has outpaced wage growth, raising legitimate concerns about the economic value of a college degree and its workforce relevance. If workforce preparation alone is higher education’s purpose, then one could surmise that the institution is not properly organized. If its purpose is to increase curiosity, mental agility, critical thinking, creativity, compassion, and leadership potential, then perhaps the existing structure, while not perfect, may still be useful. The strength of the US system is in its breadth and depth. The goal is to help potential students understand the array of options and align their goals. 

Dimitrios Peroulis: I think Purdue University has done a lot over the past few years to meet such demands. It is indeed true that successful businesses depend on educated, highly skilled workers. Constant learning and growing are key attributes for success, especially in our fast-paced world. Online education can be a particularly effective option in getting the necessary skills to keep up with a demanding and ever-changing job market. Online programs offered by Purdue include online and hybrid master’s degrees in various disciplines, professional certificates, and digital badges. The programs help working professionals attain readily applicable critical skills in emerging areas such as advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, aviation safety and management, autonomous systems, biotech, business analytics, construction sustainability and resilience, data science, data storytelling, robotics, quantum technology, security, semiconductors, and more. And these online programs offer the same content and rigor and are taught by the same faculty who teach at Purdue’s flagship campus in West Lafayette.