Microsoft Win12 Leak: Modular Architecture, Deep AI Integration, Hardware Threshold of 40 TOPS Computing Power

IT House, March 4th: The technology media Windowsforum published a blog on March 2nd, reporting that Microsoft is internally preparing the next-generation operating system codenamed “Hudson Valley Next.” In community and media reports, it is referred to as “Windows 12.”

IT House previously reported in March 2023 that the internal code name for Windows 12 is “Hudson Valley,” while Windows 11’s code name is “Sun Valley.” However, there has been no action or disclosure over the past three years.

At the Ignite conference held in October 2022, Microsoft showcased a desktop prototype that may be the visual design of “Windows 12.”

In terms of architecture, reports indicate that Windows 12 will adopt a CorePC modular architecture, enabling on-demand disassembly and rapid updates of system components.

Unlike the traditional single-image structure, CorePC uses “State Separation” technology, splitting operating system files, user data, and applications, and storing them separately in different partitions. This allows Microsoft to customize streamlined or full-featured images based on device type (such as educational tablets or high-end gaming laptops).

This design not only significantly improves system update speed and reduces reboot frequency but also ensures smooth operation of traditional Win32 applications in a modular environment through a compatibility layer called “Neon.”

Regarding AI integration, Copilot is no longer just a sidebar plugin but has evolved into a system-level intelligent agent. It can index local documents, emails, and screen content in real-time, enabling natural language-driven global search and “Recall” functions. It also natively supports AI real-time translation, automatic summarization, and assistance features.

Additionally, to balance privacy and performance, Microsoft is adopting a hybrid mode: sensitive core tasks are handled locally by NPU, while high-load generative AI relies on cloud computing power. Some advanced features may require a subscription fee.

In terms of hardware requirements, Microsoft will further promote Windows 11 AI+ PC, which requires high-performance NPUs with at least around 40 TOPS (trillions of operations per second). Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite, Intel Lunar Lake, and AMD Ryzen AI series chips have already met this standard. Older devices lacking qualified NPUs can still run the basic system, but their AI capabilities may be limited or forced to rely on cloud processing with higher latency and potential additional costs.