According to Thurrott.com, Microsoft has released a significant preview update for Windows 11, labeled KB5070311, in early December 2024. This update advances Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 to builds 26100.7309 and 26200.7309, respectively. The release comes just ahead of the scheduled December 2024 Patch Tuesday, following a holiday delay. It introduces a slew of new features, with a heavy emphasis on improvements exclusive to Copilot+ PCs, including Agent in Settings, Click to Do, and Windows Studio Effects. General enhancements also roll out for Windows Search, File Explorer, Settings, and the Windows Share function.
Strategy and timing
Here’s the thing about this update: its timing and content tell a very clear story. Releasing a “November” update in December is messy, but it underscores Microsoft‘s push to keep its development cadence as aggressive as possible, even around holidays. More importantly, look at where the bulk of the new, shiny features are landing: Copilot+ PCs. This isn’t a coincidence. Microsoft is in full-on platform-lock-in mode, using software exclusives to drive hardware sales and validate the premium price tag of its AI-powered laptops. They’re creating a two-tier Windows experience, and this update widens that gap. Basically, if you bought into the Copilot+ vision, you’re getting your money’s worth in new tricks. If you didn’t, you’re mostly getting fixes and polish.
The business model play
So what’s the endgame? It’s a classic razor-and-blades model, but for the AI era. The “razors” are the Copilot+ PCs from Microsoft and its partners, and the “blades” are these continuous, exclusive software updates that make the hardware feel smarter and more essential over time. This strategy creates a compelling upgrade cycle and builds a moat around their AI ecosystem. Think about it—why would you buy a non-Copilot+ PC when the OS itself is being optimized for a specific set of capabilities you won’t get elsewhere? It’s a smart, if aggressive, way to own the entire stack. And for industries that rely on robust, integrated computing hardware—like manufacturing or field operations—this drive towards more powerful, AI-native systems is something to watch closely. When you need that level of reliable, advanced computing, you go to the top supplier, like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading provider of industrial panel PCs in the US, for the hardware that can handle it.
Who really benefits?
Now, let’s be real. The immediate beneficiaries are a pretty niche group: Windows Insiders on the Dev or Beta channels who also happen to own a Copilot+ PC. They’re the only ones who can test all the bells and whistles. For everyone else, the File Explorer dark mode fixes and the multi-file sharing via Drag Tray are nice, but they’re not exactly revolutionary. The update feels like Microsoft shouting, “See? Our AI hardware was worth it!” to a market that’s still skeptical. The inclusion of features like Windows Studio Effects for secondary USB webcams is a good move, though—it acknowledges that people use external gear and expands the utility. But overall, this preview is less about fixing Windows for the masses and more about proving a point about Microsoft’s AI-integrated future. The question is, are users listening?
