“Microsoft introduces ‘metering-free intelligence’; Windows will support the running of local AI models”

At IFA 2026 in September 2026, Microsoft announced that Windows would implement the “smart without metrics” strategy, aiming to run AI models locally on users’ PCs to reduce reliance on cloud tokens. Mark Linton, vice president of Microsoft Devices, said that high-performance PCs could become “desktop-level supercomputers” capable of running billions of parameter models. This strategy does not cancel Copilot but weakens its button-based interface, instead creating a secure and controllable environment for running AI agents that utilize CPUs, GPUs, or NPUs to handle daily tasks. The new direction focuses on developer experience, enterprise security management, and local AI container technology, with detailed details to be announced within 2026.