Summary
- A possible release window for Windows 12 has been hinted at, with Intel executive David Zinsner suggesting a "Windows refresh" in 2024.
- Despite no official announcement from Microsoft, rumors of Windows 12 have been circulating, fueled by plans for regular Windows updates every three years.
- Microsoft continues to provide support for Windows 10 and is regularly updating Windows 11.
A possible release window for Windows 12, Microsoft’s next version of its operating system, was recently hinted at by an Intel executive. While gamers are likely watching Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard acquisition deal closely, some of the non-gaming segments of the company are currently working on the famous Windows operating system, and it seems that the update may come out soon.
Windows 11 was released in October 2021, succeeding the popular Windows 10. At the time, Microsoft went back on its promise that Windows 10 would be “the last version of Windows,” which was largely inspired by a software as a service (SaaS) model. Since then, there have been several rumors that Windows 12 has been in the works, despite no official announcement from the tech giant yet.
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Now, the upcoming update of the operating system, which is not officially named Windows 12 yet, was hinted at by David Zinsner, the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Intel during the recent City 2023 Global Technology Conference. During his presentation, Zinsner affirmed that Intel believes 2024 is going to be a pretty good year for Microsoft, particularly because of the awaited “Windows refresh,” which is apparently due next year.
While this does not prove that Windows 12 will be released in 2024, it’s probable that the operating system will see a significant update next year, especially when taking previous rumors into account. For instance, a rumor from last year stated that Microsoft plans to release a new Windows every three years, which would put the release of the next iteration of the operating system in 2024.
Microsoft updates Windows 11 regularly, and still provides support for security features for Windows 10. One of the latest changes in this regard is the removal of Cortana from all versions of Windows 11, making it only available via Outlook mobile. The recent update removed support for the app, which is Microsoft’s virtual assistant that uses the company’s Bing search engine to help users find answers to their questions. However, this was part of a move to improve the services, as Cortana has been replaced with both Bing Chat and Windows Copilot, which use the company’s AI technology to help users in what is expected to be a more efficient manner, such as rewriting or summarising content on the screen.
Source: OnMSFT