Microsoft Build 2026 Unveils New AI Hardware and Assistants

Microsoft's Build 2026 conference showcased significant advancements in AI, including new Surface hardware and an always-on personal assistant. A key announcement was the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box, designed for developers to run local AI models, featuring Nvidia's new Arm-based Spark RTX chip. This device aims to serve as an alternative to Qualcomm's previously canceled development kit. The event, led by CEO Satya Nadella, also featured updates to Microsoft's in-house AI models, signaling a strong push towards integrating AI capabilities across their product ecosystem.