This week brings a mix of tech news, policy impacts, and AI model mysteries. Let’s address some pressing questions.
Tariffs and Windows 10 End of Life (EOL)
How might recent tariffs on China affect the Windows 10 end-of-life timeline? The concern is that tariffs could increase the cost of computer components, leading consumers and businesses to delay hardware upgrades. While Microsoft is unlikely to change the EOL date for Windows 10, the economic impact deserves consideration.
The most direct solution is to leverage extended security updates (ESU) if upgrading or migrating isn’t immediately feasible.
Extended Security Updates (ESU)
For those unable to upgrade by the Windows 10 EOL, Extended Security Updates (ESU) offer a temporary solution. Consumers can expect to pay around $30 for the first year. Businesses face a higher cost, ranging from $45 to $61 per user for the first year of a possible three-year extension.
Potential Economic Impact
The real-world impact on PC and device pricing remains to be seen. Political factors and potential protectionist measures for U.S.-based companies could mitigate the effects of tariffs. However, it’s likely that consumers will bear some of the increased costs.
Ultimately, the Windows 10 EOL date is firm, and organizations should plan accordingly.
Copilot Pro’s LLM Model
What Large Language Model (LLM) powers Copilot Pro? This question has been difficult to answer definitively.
Microsoft is unlikely to reveal the specific details of how it modifies the output from OpenAI’s models within Copilot. Rumors suggest that Copilot might soon utilize different models.
Public Information and Experimentation
Step 1: Monitor official Microsoft announcements regarding Copilot Pro.
Keep an eye on Microsoft’s official blog and press releases for any updates on the underlying models.
Step 2: Conduct your own testing with Copilot Pro.
Experiment with various prompts and compare the results to those from other known LLMs like GPT-4 to infer which model Copilot Pro may be using at any given time.
Step 3: Review online communities.
Check online tech communities to see if others have been able to shed light on which LLM model Copilot Pro uses.
While the exact model remains a mystery, the functionality and performance of Copilot Pro are what truly matter. Staying informed and experimenting directly can provide valuable insights into its capabilities.