Windows 11’s AI-powered Recall can run on unsupported PCs without NPUs, but Microsoft doesn’t want you to
What do you need to know
- Microsoft has revealed a number of next-generation AI features that will ship with Windows 11 exclusively on Copilot+ PCs with powerful NPUs.
- The user bypassed these strict requirements and made Windows Recall work on Arm64 hardware.
- This feature runs surprisingly well on unsupported hardware, but you’ll likely have a better experience on machines with dedicated NPU hardware.
While Microsoft’s strict requirements limit its new and controversial Windows 11 Recall feature to Copilot+ PCs with powerful NPUs like Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X chips, Windows sleuth Albacore has seemingly found a workaround that allows this neat feature to run on traditional Windows 11 PCs, seeing Arm64 hardware (via TechRadar).
Major progress enabling Recall on current Arm64 hardware, no fancy X Elite in sight! ✨Should theoretically work on Intel/AMD as well, OEMs only received Arm64 specific ML model packs so not much I can do yet. Here’s a little demo video showing a screenshot 🪄 pic.twitter.com/w57fF1LxiNMay 23, 2024
According to a video by a well-known Windows hacker Albacore, the feature works exactly as Microsoft explained. However, it is clear that many Windows Recall functions do not actually require the NPU. As you may know, the Neural Processing Unit (NPU) is designed to help offload computing power from GPUs and CPUs on computers to a dedicated chip designed to handle these AI workloads.
The video shows how the screenray feature will work in Windows 11 Recall. Screenray is when you enter context-sensitive mode and use Windows 11’s Recall option to track your steps.
RELATED: 5 reasons why you should (and shouldn’t) use Windows Recall
Albacore added that the feature “should theoretically work on Intel/AMD as well; OEMs have only received Arm64-specific ML model packs, so there’s not much I can do yet.”
While Windows Recall seems to work without an NPU, it’s probably not something you want to enable on a computer that doesn’t have one. With the NPU present, some Windows Recall functions are transferred to the NPU, freeing up your CPU and GPU for other tasks.
Windows Recall raises security and privacy concerns
“One of the dreams we’ve always had is how we implement memory,” Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal’s Joanna Stern about Windows 11’s new and controversial AI feature, Windows Recall. “Right? Photographic memory for what you do on your PC? And now we have it.”
During Microsoft’s special event for Windows and Surface, the company announced a number of next-generation AI features coming to Windows 11 as part of the Windows 11 2024 Update (24H2 version), including live captions, Windows Recall and more. The latter stole the show, prompting concerns among users about security and privacy.
Windows Recall runs in the background of your computer and captures snapshots of everything you see and do, allowing you to search everything you’ve ever done on your computer using natural language.
Microsoft promises that the feature is 100% privacy-focused because it runs on the device via the NPU. It is shown to users as a login option and users can disable it at any time through settings.
What’s more, you can restrict this feature from taking screenshots of specific apps or websites (which are stored locally on your PC). Users can also choose how long they want to save screenshots and how much space is reserved for this feature.
READ MORE: How to use Windows Recall in Windows 11
Interestingly, the only way to get the new Recall feature is to buy a new Copilot+ computer. Microsoft has remained silent on if/when it plans to deliver next-gen AI features to traditional Windows 11 PCs without/with less powerful NPUs.
Windows 11 Recall is impressive and controversial, but at the same time, there is so much it can help you achieve. And despite Microsoft’s promise of 100% privacy and running the feature locally with the NPU on the device, users have blatantly voiced their reservations about the feature.
Some users have even hinted that they will soon switch to other operating systems such as Linux as the end of support for Windows 10 is nearing. Elon Musk even compares the AI feature to an episode of Black Mirror. Meanwhile, the UK’s data watchdog is investigating Microsoft’s controversial new AI feature to determine safeguards to protect user privacy.
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