According to Windows Report | Error-free Tech Life, Microsoft is rolling out automatic alt text generation for images in Word and PowerPoint, but there’s a big catch: it only works on the new Copilot+ PCs. The feature leverages the dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) in these devices, which delivers over 40 TOPS of AI performance, to generate descriptions directly on your computer instead of in the cloud. It’s available now for Microsoft 365 subscribers running Version 2512 (Build 19530.20006) or newer. Once you insert an image, alt text is suggested automatically at the bottom, and you can also generate it for existing images via the Picture Format or Review menus. Users can disable the feature entirely in File > Options > Accessibility. This update is part of a broader push that includes real-time text editing in Copilot, though that latter feature is currently limited to Insiders.
The On-Device Pivot
Here’s the thing: this isn’t just an accessibility win. It’s a major signal about where Microsoft thinks AI is going. By requiring a Copilot+ PC with a powerful NPU, they’re making a hard sell for their new hardware. The benefits of on-device processing—speed, privacy, lower power use—are real. But it creates a two-tier system. If you’re on an older laptop? Tough luck. You’re stuck with manual entries or potentially slower, less private cloud-based alternatives. Microsoft is basically using software features to drive hardware upgrades, a classic move, but one that could leave a lot of users behind in the short term.
Winners and Losers
So who wins? Obviously, Microsoft and its hardware partners like Qualcomm, whose Snapdragon X chips are in these first Copilot+ PCs. They get to market “exclusive” AI features. Users who can afford the new gear get a genuinely useful, seamless tool. The loser, for now, is the vast installed base of PCs without a capable NPU. And what about the competitive landscape? Google Docs has had “auto-generate alt text” for years, but it’s a cloud function. Microsoft’s on-device angle is a differentiator, but it’s a differentiation that requires you to buy a whole new computer. It raises a big question: will essential productivity features become locked behind hardware gates? That seems like a dangerous precedent.
Beyond The Buzz
Look, the feature itself is great. Automating alt text removes a tedious step and makes creating accessible documents the default path of least resistance. That’s a huge deal for inclusivity. But I think the more interesting story is under the hood. This is a pure play for on-device AI, which is becoming the next major battleground. Apple is all-in with its Apple Silicon neural engines, and now Microsoft is forcing the issue on Windows. It’s not just about fancy chatbots; it’s about baking AI into the mundane, everyday tasks like describing a chart in a PowerPoint. That’s where it actually becomes useful. The success of this push, however, will depend entirely on how quickly this specialized NPU hardware trickles down to more affordable machines. If it stays a premium feature, its impact will be severely limited.
