NPUs Are Now Standard in Laptops-But Most Users Never Use Them

technology

Today, NPUs are standard in new laptops, but most users never use them.

Microsoft's Copilot + PC certification requires a 40-TOPS NPU, pushing manufacturers to include chips from Qualcomm, Intel, and AMD that often exceed that threshold.

Yet software that taps the NPU remains scarce, limited to features like webcam effects, noise suppression, and local search, leaving the dedicated silicon largely unused.