Microsoft is preparing an AI-focused release of Windows, code-named Hudson Valley, under the new leadership of the Windows & Web Experiences team. The new Windows roadmap will return to an annual release cycle for major versions, with smaller feature drops throughout the year. Based on the Germanium platform, Hudson Valley is expected to ship in September or October 2024 and will feature AI-powered enhancements to the Windows Shell, improved search capabilities, Super Resolution for videos and games, and more. The release will also introduce an AI-powered history/timeline feature and a dedicated “creator” area in the Start menu and File Explorer. The final branding of Hudson Valley as Windows 11 or Windows 12 is yet to be determined. Additionally, Microsoft is working on CorePC, a modular and more secure version of Windows, but it will not be offered as an upgrade for existing PCs.
The return to an annual release cycle for major versions, supplemented with smaller feature drops, reflects a strategic shift in Microsoft’s approach to software updates. Microsoft is clearly all in on AI, and it should be unsurprising to see it coming in Windows itself.