At the Microsoft Build developer conference, the company announced significant updates for Windows and the Surface lineup, but a “Windows 12” update is not among them. Rumors about Windows 12 began last year, suggesting a return to a three-year release cycle like previous versions such as Vista, 7, 8, and 10. Although Microsoft considered naming the upcoming fall release “Windows 12,” it remains an update to Windows 11, focusing on substantial AI and Arm system improvements.
Microsoft Corporate VP Pavan Davuluri explained that the update modernizes Windows 11 with a new compiler, kernel, and schedulers to enhance AI inference and leverage the Arm64 instruction set. These changes may affect users with early 64-bit x86 processors, as the OS might become unbootable on some older systems.
Despite these technical upgrades, Microsoft opted to retain the Windows 11 branding and interface to maintain its user base. Windows 11 adoption has been slower than Windows 10, with current active users estimated between 400–500 million.
The first version of Windows 11 was essentially Windows 10 with a refreshed interface, originally known as “Windows 10X.” Strict system requirements for Windows 11, like Secure Boot and TPM 2.0, can be bypassed, allowing it to run on most PCs that supported Windows 10. The upcoming Windows 11 24H2 update, available to Windows Insiders now, will be released to all Windows 11 PCs this fall.
