Microsoft just announced a Windows and Surface event that will be held on October 7, 2026. Based on the invite, the event will focus on “how local AI will shape the next chapter of the PC.” That’s not exactly a topic that will move the needle for general users.
Microsoft is all-in on AI, billions of dollars down the drain be damned. The tech giant created what may be the “best laptop ever made” to run AI locally. Considering the focus of Microsoft’s event, it’s safe to assume the Surface Laptop Ultra will be center stage.
Maybe I’m just part of the old guard yearning for the days of unique form factors and hardware innovation, but I just don’t think a Surface running NVIDIA’s new RTX Spark superchip is enough to lead an event.
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The biggest news of the week was the announcement of the event, but I’m not sure that’s a good thing. Our readers’ reception to the announcement has been largely negative.
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“Nothing about this matters. The Laptop has always been my least-favorite computer in the Surface family. The RTX version is just AI-focused internals at a comical price,” said Lil Frier. “There’s nothing about Surface to be interested in anymore, and Windows 11 is still nothing more than a reason I have stuck with Windows 10.”
Another user, aruntopez10, said, “Honestly, I have zero faith in this event. Their events have become so boring and unwatchable ever since Panos left (including even his last event). It’s sad how they went from having the BEST and interesting fall tech events to the worst.”
Microsoft hasn’t given our readers — or anyone else — good reason to expect much from this event. Earlier this year I outlined how Microsoft can save the Surface brand. The company has done very little of what I suggested. And it’s not like I have wild ideas that are mine alone. People want Surface to be exciting and to push boundaries, not be iterative updates and boxes for AI.
Disappointment is nothing new to Surface fans. Our Senior Editor Zac Bowden called the 2023 Surface and AI event “a massive blunder and missed opportunity.”
Microsoft has genuinely changed course when it comes to Windows 11. The company’s Windows K2 initiative is changing some of the most complained about parts of Windows 11. As we saw this week, that process is having some hiccups, but it is a major step in the right direction.
Surface? Not so much. I’d argue things are getting worse, not better. Microsoft just doesn’t understand what made Surface special and isn’t willing to embrace the family’s roots.
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