Windows Weekly 951: The ODBC of AI

TWiT.tv — September 24, 2025
Host: Leo Laporte
Guests: Paul Thurrott (Maui, Snapdragon Summit), Richard Campbell (British Columbia)

Overview

This episode features Paul Thurrott reporting live from Maui, Hawaii, at Qualcomm's Snapdragon Summit, joined by Richard Campbell and Leo Laporte. The main themes are breaking news from the Snapdragon Summit (including new Snapdragon X Elite processor details), upcoming Windows releases, the evolution and skepticism around AI’s role in computing, hardware transitions (particularly Windows ARM, Apple's increasing touch, and Chromebook/Android convergence), and notable industry moves (particularly in the AI space and Microsoft's AI ambitions).

Key Discussion Points

Snapdragon X Elite: What’s New in PC Chips and Why It Matters

[1:58]–[3:05]; [138:40]–[148:44]

• Paul Thurrott is live at the Snapdragon Summit, Maui.
  • Qualcomm unveiled the Snapdragon X2 Elite and Elite Extreme chips for PCs, promising significant performance and efficiency gains.
  • Unique feature: The X2 Elite Extreme integrates memory onto the die, copying Apple's M-series strategy for performance boosts (“Qualcomm makes X2 Elite faster by copying Apple” — [139:57]).
  • Up to 5 GHz clock speed (“First ARM chip to hit 5 GHz… That’s fast, man.” — Richard, [142:24]).
  • Dramatic NPU (AI processor) gains – now 80 TOPS, supporting “concurrent AI experiences” ([143:19]).
  • “The truth is, these are great chips.” — Paul ([147:40])
  • The catch: Devices aren’t due until the first half of 2026 (“they've already missed the holiday season” — [144:04]).
  • Competition: Microsoft maintains exclusivity with Qualcomm, but MediaTek has ARM chips ready that meet Copilot+ PC specs and may enter the Windows space soon ([145:27]).

Windows 25H2 and 24H2: Release, Features, and Insider Testing

[3:25]–[8:22]; [39:04]–[45:19]

• Windows 25H2 is now available in release preview ISO form, with only incremental updates over 24H2.
• Microsoft is still allowing workarounds for local account setup (“everything that worked before as workarounds works fine”— Paul, [5:11]).
• Enablement Package (EKB): Quick cumulative updates for major feature switches (“KB is the old knowledge base… E is for enablement”— [5:36]–[6:52]).
• New way of rolling out AI features: Windows AI Labs.
  • “Think of this as the AI version of that 'get updates early' switch in Windows Update, just for AI features.” — Paul ([41:16])
  • Labs allow users outside the Insider program to sample experimental AI capabilities before mainstream release.

ARM Windows Laptops & Platform Shifts

[8:22]–[24:38]; [46:33]–[53:15]

• Paul traveled exclusively with ARM-based laptops, both MacBook and Windows on ARM, reporting robust performance and exceptional battery life.
  • “It is one of the best laptops I've ever used in my life…just excellent.” — Paul, [8:22]
  • “If Intel was involved at any point in this, this would never have worked.” — Paul, [11:03]
• The ARM transition is practically ready for prime time for most users except gamers.
  • “For mainstream users, these are the best computers.” ([50:21])
• Hardware deployment details:
  • Copilot+ PC requirements now include best security features by default, modernizing the Windows platform’s security posture (“Windows Hello ESS is incredibly stringent, and you get it by default…” — [50:23])
• Even for businesses, Paul and Richard note compatibility concerns are now minimal—line-of-business apps usually work via emulation or .NET recompilation ([47:26]–[48:21]).

The Fate of Touch Interfaces – Apple, Windows, and Chromebook

[17:10]–[18:49]

• Speculation and divided opinions about Apple adding touch to Mac laptops.
  • “There's a big debate in the Apple community…should we or shouldn’t we?” — Leo ([16:46])
  • Windows touch support is no longer universal; many high-end enterprise buyers actively avoid touch and neural processors to cut costs ([18:08]).
• Chromebooks and Android tablets are converging; Google appears to be prepping Android as a desktop-class OS, fueling speculation about ChromeOS’s future ([75:29]–[78:51]).

AI, Hype Cycles, and Industry Shifts

[19:04]–[27:28]; [97:47]–[124:44]

• AI Trough of Disillusionment:
  • “We're just cruising down the trough of disillusionment.” — Richard, [21:39]
  • The team draws parallels with the dot-com bust: AI hype is fading but foundational technology persists.
• End-user skepticism is “the slop” of AI—most users see no real benefit yet ([23:03]–[24:38]).
• AI Marketplace Dynamics:
  • Microsoft is pursuing independence from OpenAI, introducing model choice (Anthropic, Microsoft AI models) to Copilot365 ([98:04]–[100:34]).
    • “This is more about Microsoft and OpenAI splitting up…” — Paul ([101:38])
  • Microsoft is reportedly developing a marketplace where publishers can be paid for content used in AI training or synthesis ([119:10]).
    • “The notion of getting paid for the work you do…is not a horrible idea.” — Paul ([120:50])
• AI is becoming an ‘everywhere’ feature:
  • “The ODBC of AI” refers to backend interoperability, enabling agents to integrate and automate work across apps and services ([121:13]–[123:07]).
    • “For this to work, a lot of things have to happen, but one of those is that all the apps and online services…have to adapt and expose connectors.” — Paul ([124:44])

Notable Moments & Quotes

Snapdragon X Elite & ARM Transition

• “It is one of the best laptops I’ve ever used… And the battery lasted across both flights.” — Paul ([8:22])
• “If Intel was involved at any point in this, this would never have worked.” — Paul ([11:03])

AI Hype & Disillusionment

• “We're just cruising down the trough of disillusionment.” — Richard ([21:39])
• “The world is moving ahead, guys…with or without you.” — Paul ([24:38])

Platform Convergence & Change

• “The seasons go by and the first time you turn on the heat…the smell [is like] what's going to happen with unused NPUs — one day they’ll turn them on and blow the dust out…” — Paul ([19:09])

Microsoft’s Business Direction

• “If you think this is expensive, maybe do it somewhere else, because that’s their strategy.” (on Xbox console price hikes — Paul, [155:57])

Technology & Human Connection

• “Anything that increases our connections with human beings…is a good thing. A brilliant idea.” — Leo ([164:10])
• “Pick one story that, from your experience, tells people about the person you care about…then tell them the story.” — Paul ([160:58]–[164:02])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Snapdragon X Elite, Paul’s ARM experience
  [1:58]–[3:05], [8:22]–[11:03], [138:40]–[148:44]
• Windows 25H2 status and features
  [3:25]–[8:22], [39:04]–[45:19]
• Touch debate (Apple, Windows, Chromebook convergence)
  [14:49]–[18:49], [75:29]–[78:51]
• AI skepticism, industry aftermath
  [19:04]–[27:28], [97:47]–[124:44]
• AI agents, ODBC analogy
  [121:13]–[124:44]
• AI model independence, MS/OpenAI drama
  [98:04]–[101:38]
• Xbox hardware and pricing
  [155:00]–[157:34]
• Heartwarming stories and closing community remarks
  [160:23]–[166:49]

Additional Discussions

• Windows AI Labs: A new way for stable builds to sample AI features ([41:16]).
• Apple and ARM Memory Tagging: Windows ARM devices could rival Apple’s memory safety advances with further updates ([53:00]).
• Chrome and Gemini AI integration: Google is opening up Gemini AI browser features to more users across platforms ([128:53]–[131:35]).
• Chromebooks running Linux, value/cost proposition: Modern Chromebooks are more expensive and capable, but still face expectations and driver challenges ([81:38]).
• Back of the book: Notion 3.0 launches with agents on the free tier ([159:30]), the importance of sharing meaningful stories ([160:23]–[164:49]), and a Swedish whiskey review by Richard ([168:25]–[174:13]).

Conclusion

This episode is a nuanced snapshot of the PC landscape at a moment of profound hardware and software transformation. Qualcomm is making serious moves in PC chips, Microsoft’s Windows and AI strategies are broadening and becoming increasingly independent, and the hosts reflect on how, as the AI hype cycle wanes, human connections and genuine functionality matter more than ever.

Notable Quote of the Week:

“For this to work, a lot of things have to happen, but one of those is that the apps and online services, etc., have to adapt and they have to change. And as they do, you’ll have these agents that can be more and more powerful…”
— Paul Thurrott, [124:44]

Memorable Moment:
Paul, reflecting on friends and storytelling:

“For the people you really care about, come up with one story from your experience that tells people, without knowing them, something about that person that is meaningful… And then if you get the opportunity… tell that person the story.” ([160:23]–[164:02])

For more details, see:

• [Notion 3.0 — now with agents (tip)] [159:30]
• [Snapdragon X2 Elite announcement] [138:40]
• [Windows AI Labs] [41:16]
• [Chromebooks with MediaTek, future of ARM PCs] [145:48]
• [Copilot AI agent interoperability, ODBC analogy] [121:13]