Windows Weekly 946: Backing up the Intel Truck — Microsoft's gamescom 2025 Reveals

Date: August 20, 2025
Hosts: Paul Thurrott, Richard Campbell, co-hosted by Micah Sargent
Podcast: Windows Weekly (Audio) – TWiT

Overview

Episode 946 takes listeners on a deep dive into recent news and rumors across Microsoft, Windows, the PC industry, AI developments, and Xbox—with a healthy dose of banter, skepticism, and classic Windows Weekly conversational humor. Major topics include reactions to Google’s latest Pixel event, Windows 11’s evolving AI strategy, the rise of AI-driven file search and operating system design, Lenovo’s banner financials amid PC market turbulence, in-depth discussion on ARM vs. x86 CPUs, and Microsoft’s gamescom announcements, particularly around Xbox gaming on Windows ARM and cross-platform expansion. The episode closes with picks, listener tips, and a fascinating whiskey review.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Google Pixel 10 Event: Celebrity Over Substance? (00:27–08:52)

• Initial Banter: The hosts start by ribbing Google's Pixel 10 launch, hosted by Jimmy Fallon and star-studded with the Jonas Brothers, Steph Curry, and YouTube personalities. They all agree it felt overdone and distracted from the actual technology.
  • Paul Thurrott (01:37): “I confess a little nervous when I saw that Jimmy Fallon was going to host.”
  • Richard Campbell (04:38): “This is what the Amiga was back in the day. Everyone who knows anything is like, I have to have an Amiga. And then everyone else is like, yeah, whatever.”
  • The hosts judge Google’s attempts as an awkward effort to seem more “mainstream.” They compare Pixel’s reputation among enthusiasts to Windows Phone and the Amiga. Google is seen as a distant third to Apple and Samsung in smartphones.
• Device Details: Despite a global expansion, including the first Mexico launch, the Pixel remains a “geek’s phone.” New features like real-time voice translation (now reproducing your voice in translation) receive skepticism about real-world performance.
• Event Froth: Hosts note Google focused heavily on AI features but “there’s not a lot to say” about hardware anymore. The year-over-year upgrade cycle feels less compelling than ever.

2. Windows 11’s Future: AI Everywhere, Evolving UI (10:00–20:27)

• Vision Messaging: Microsoft’s recent “Vision” videos underscoring how AI will transform Windows are received with both anticipation and anxiety. Any “visionary” talk from Microsoft execs is met with the joke, “relax, don’t ruin it yet!”
  • Richard Campbell (11:22): “We have AI, right. It’s a Vision thing...they’re just playing with ideas.”
  • Windows is described as currently the most powerful “traditional” productivity OS because of its input plurality (keyboard, mouse, touch, pen)—but there’s a clear trend toward integrating more natural language and sensory AI.
• Natural Language Paradigm: The hosts discuss the rise of Copilot and AI-driven interfaces that will soon obviate old dialog boxes, menus, and settings panels—users will simply “say what you want.”
• Legacy Support: Despite surging AI, classic Windows features (MMC, old fonts dialog, VB runtimes) remain, and likely always will.
  • Richard Campbell (16:03): “If you want to add fonts to your system using that box from Windows 95, it's still there."
• Semantic File Search & Copilot Evolution (17:27–20:27):
  • Introduction of “Semantic File Search,” now available via Copilot for Insider users on Copilot+ PCs.
  • Discussion of Copilot’s ever-changing UI, which now resembles a cross between Trello, Microsoft 365 app, and a “Home Hub.” Indie that the Next Start Menu is “no Start menu at all”—maybe “this is the first step toward that.”

3. AI Commodification, Orchestration & Privacy (20:28–35:12)

• AI “Orchestration” Platforms: The hosts debate the real user value in the increasingly interchangeable AI offerings (Gemini Live, Copilot, DuckDuckGo, Kagi, Perplexity) and the trend toward “orchestrators” that combine models and sources.
  • Paul Thurrott (31:05): “If you can get orchestration and privacy, to me, that is a differentiator.”
• Privacy as Differentiator: Private AI (like DuckDuckGo, Kagi.com) becomes a rare selling point, but mass market doesn’t seem to care… yet.
  • Richard Campbell (31:54): “To me and you… we know the difference. Does my wife care? My mother? I can’t tell.”
  • The “Grok AI” incident is cited—where sharing a result link made it publicly searchable, even if the topic was confidential.
• Paying for Privacy: Feature-rich, privacy-centric AI tools are starting to cost real money (e.g., Kagi’s $150/year). The internet’s old “free” model erodes while user data becomes the new commodity.

4. PC Industry Shakeups: Lenovo’s Unexpected Banner Quarter & ARM Ascendance (46:38–63:21)

• Lenovo Smashes Expectations (46:38–51:55):
  • Despite a tepid global PC market, Lenovo posts record revenues and profits, pulling away as the largest global PC maker (over HP and Dell).
  • Deliberations on why commercial PC refresh cycles (hardware depreciation, OS support timelines like Windows 10 EOL) drive industry rhythms more than innovation does.
  • Lenovo’s AI PC shipments now account for 30% of units; AI is now a sales driver, especially for Copilot+ (ARM/MPU) systems.
• ARM vs. x86 in Microsoft’s World:
  • Personal purchasing anecdotes: Paul has bought three ARM-based laptops recently, raving about their daily usability and productivity—even as business (commercial) PC lines still mostly lack Copilot+ certification.
  • The end of Intel’s “co-marketing” financial clout results in more AMD and ARM options in premium devices—“backing up the Intel truck” of money for exclusivity is finally over.
  • Frank discussion of Linux preloads and support from Lenovo and Dell.
  • Paul Thurrott (59:13): [On why we don’t see AMD in high-end ThinkPad lines] “He’s like, ‘That’s the Intel truck dumping the pile of money on our front lawn.’”

5. Microsoft & Windows AI Browser Moves; AI Features Arms Race (65:36–75:51)

• Gemini in Chrome: Google’s integration of Gemini into Chrome is rolled out quietly and is only available to paid users—emphasizing how AI features are becoming paywalled.
• AI Browser Privacy and Security: Brave’s team uncovers a major privacy flaw in Perplexity’s browser, which exposed user data context across tabs—thanks to direct engineering comparison (“let’s see how they do it...Oh, they don’t!”).
• Memory as Table Stakes: AI “memory” (the ability to remember user context) now arrives in Gemini, following similar moves by Microsoft and others.
• Smart Editors (Grammarly, etc.): Grammarly responds to competition by evolving past grammar/spellcheck into a full-featured AI productivity suite, adding graders, citation finders, paraphrasers, and more to stave off existential threat from larger office suite competitors.

6. Windows 11 SSD Rumor: Security Update Woes? (77:10–78:36)

• Rumors circulate around a recent Windows 11 security update (KB506, 3878 and 2660) causing SSD failures during large file transfers.
  • So far, the incident appears limited and anecdotal, but the hosts urge continued caution and monitoring.

7. Xbox & Gaming: Microsoft’s Gamescom 2025 Announcements (79:01–92:38)

• Xbox App on ARM: Partial Revolution (79:20–83:42):
  • The Xbox app is being updated to support cross-store gaming libraries (Steam, Epic, GoG) and proper ARM/Windows on ARM compatibility—but not all games will run; there's no filter to hide incompatible games, leading to user frustration (huge downloads, instant crashes).
  • Richard Campbell (83:18): “The latest Doom... and Call of Duty because why not just go for the gold, right? Both... just crash immediately when you run.”
• Gamescom News:
  • Call of Duty Black Ops 7 continues a convoluted storyline; Microsoft’s Indiana Jones coming to Switch 2 as the only currently announced Xbox-published Switch title.
  • Hardware: ASUS ROG Ally Xbox handheld announced for Oct 16, expected price $600–$900.
  • Sony raises PS5 prices in response to tariffs.
  • Cloud gaming tech: Nvidia’s GeForce NOW now supports 5K60 streaming with RTX 5080 class GPUs (premium tier), but the hosts remain skeptical of practical “5K” streaming.
• Game Pass Additions: Main highlight is Gears of War Reloaded (remastered for a second time), along with Dragon Age: Veil God, Persona 4, and Goat Simulator Remastered making appearances.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“This is what the Amiga was back in the day. Everyone who knows anything is like, I have to have an Amiga. And then everyone else is like, yeah, whatever.”
—Richard Campbell on the Pixel’s niche appeal (04:38)

"The natural language AI bit that goes on the top I think is what will put this over the top... We weren't waiting for AI to solve the problem, but now it can."
—Richard Campbell on AI’s impact on Windows usability (14:50)

"If you want to add fonts to your system using that box that came inside Windows 95, it's still there. Everything's good."
—Richard Campbell on Windows’ legendary backward compatibility (16:03)

“Is that the Intel truck dumping the pile of money on our front lawn? That’s why.”
—Paul Thurrott quoting Lenovo’s reason for Intel exclusivity (59:13)

“If you can get orchestration and privacy, to me, that is a differentiator.”
—Paul Thurrott on where AI tool innovation could happen (31:05)

“I think you should invite Richard to Chiro [Chichibu]. I know he's a big fan of Windows Weekly, so…”
—Paul Thurrott, tying the whiskey pick into the show’s inside jokes (125:30)

Timestamps by Topic

• Google Pixel 10 Event & industry positioning: 00:27–08:52
• Windows 11 Vision, AI & UI changes: 10:00–20:27
• Semantic search & Copilot UI changes: 17:27–20:27
• AI orchestration, privacy, convergence: 20:28–35:12
• Lenovo’s earnings, PC refresh cycles, ARM/AMD ascendancy: 46:38–63:21
• ARM/Intel discussion, “Intel truck” story: 59:13
• AI browsers & privacy issues: 65:36–75:51
• Windows 11 SSD update rumor: 77:10–78:36
• Xbox app updates & gaming on ARM: 79:01–83:42
• Gamescom software/hardware, Game Pass, GeForce NOW: 84:11–92:38
• Tip of the week, Notion offline support, Obsidian debate: 96:22–107:01
• Listener picks/whiskey of the week (Chichibu/Ichiro): 115:15–126:30

Picks, Tips, and Whiskey

Paul Thurrott’s Tip

• Big site updates coming soon; Chris Hoffman’s new “Windows readme” Substack newsletter launching soon.
• Notion finally gets (limited) offline support, but with manual per-page enablement—Paul and Leo express wish for a more Obsidian-style, fully local, freely syncable approach.

Richard Campbell’s RunAs Radio

• Episode 998: Interview with Martina Grom on “securing your data estate” and using Microsoft Purview for data governance and M365 Copilot visibility.

Whiskey of the Week: Chichibu (Ichiro) — Chichibu Distillery (115:15–126:30)

• Story of Ichiro Akuto, his preservation of old Japanese whiskey traditions, and the legendary “playing card” series (one set of 54 sold for $1.5 million!).
• Chichibu’s “white label” malt & grain blend ($75–$100, if you can find it) is the main bottle most can actually buy; everything else is ultra-rare and expensive.
  • “Craft distillery, quiet, tiny, and considered the definitive craft distillery in Japan... They don't even have a website.”

Conclusion

A wide-ranging session that’s both industry-insider and deeply accessible—balancing skepticism toward tech hype, appreciation of real innovation, and candid user-centric critiques. If you want perspective on where Windows, the PC industry, cloud AI, privacy, and gaming are headed—from those who have seen it all, with plenty of humor along the way—this is the episode for you.