Windows Weekly 951: The ODBC of AI – Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme Promises Blazing Speeds!

Date: September 24, 2025
Hosts: Leo Laporte (A), Paul Thurrott (C), Richard Campbell (B)
Theme: Live from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Summit, the crew covers blazing new ARM chipsets, AI in Windows (and everywhere), device picks for business and users, and what it means to be the “ODBC of AI.”

Episode Overview

This episode takes listeners right into the heart of Microsoft’s present and future: Paul reports live from the Snapdragon Summit in Maui with breaking news on Qualcomm’s next-generation ARM chips, sparking a debate about the trajectory of Windows hardware. The crew dives into AI’s evolving role in Windows and the broader tech world, discusses the shifting lines between platforms like Windows, Mac, Android, and ChromeOS, and reflects with both technical and human warmth on what’s changing in productivity, security, and life with computers.

Key Segments & Insights

1. Travel Woes and Qualcomm’s Maui Summit

0:00–10:00

• Hosts share travel mishaps (delayed flights, exhaustion) and banter about Paul’s “paradise with jet lag” at the Snapdragon Summit.
• Paul’s quick ARM review: Flew internationally relying exclusively on ARM-based laptops (including a MacBook Air and Windows on ARM PCs), marvels at “just works” experience, especially for battery life and seamless device continuity.

“It was maybe the best example of that Apple-like experience. You take a photo on your phone, get a notification from Phone Link, save it to your computer, post it, all while taking notes and recording. Everything just worked – and it’s all ARM-based.” — Paul (10:47)

2. Windows Development and Release News

3:25–8:00, 12:45–14:49

• Windows 25H2 quietly released:

  • ISOs available for both x64 and ARM.
  • Enablement Packages (EKBs) facilitate fast upgrades.
  • Despite rumors, offline installs and local account setups remain possible with the same workarounds.
  • Windows feature previews are staggered and unpredictable, with Week D missing updates for 24H2 but likely arriving soon.

• Clarity on EKBs:

  • “E” stands for “Enablement.” Terminology is still quirky (Enablement ‘Karen’ Package gets a laugh).

3. Touchscreen Debate & Device Trends

14:30–19:03

• Will Apple add touch to Macs? Ongoing debate as Windows laptops have moved away from touch on even premium models.
• Enterprise buyers often forgo touch and NPUs to cut costs unless needed.
• Discussion on whether most users want or need touch, with all three hosts preferring non-touch screens for most laptop tasks.

4. The NPU Dilemma: AI Hardware Remains Amateur

19:04–21:26

• Neural Processing Units (NPUs): Enterprises question their value as few applications use them yet.
• Icons in Task Manager may show them idle — the “dust on the heating system” problem.

“Someday all computers will have NPUs… for no reason or not. We don’t know how this is going to end up.” — Leo (21:30)

• Gartner AI Hype Cycle:
  • Hosts feel AI is entering the “trough of disillusionment,” similar to the dot-com bust, where overhyped potential meets slow real-world results.

5. AI Fatigue, Real-World Use, and Investors Pulling Back

21:35–26:05

• Current AI climate: Investor pullback reminiscent of the dot-com bubble.
• User sentiment: Despite “AI slop,” some real-world benefits do emerge; people focus on failures instead of "it just worked" moments.
• Comparisons to the Apple Watch: Media only reports highlights or failures, never the routine successes.

6. Microsoft’s New AI Labs and Insider Programs

39:06–44:51

• Windows AI Labs:
  • Users on stable builds can soon opt into testing experimental AI features, starting in apps like Paint, outside the formal Insider Program.
  • Rationale: Increase user engagement and feedback numbers as Insider interest declines.
• Recall and Agents as a Platform Pattern:
  • Microsoft’s controversial “Recall” feature (AI screenshots for context) is now being copied by Google and others, signifying a new baseline for “AI in context” features.

7. State of ARM-based Windows PCs: Should You Buy?

46:37–56:37

• Paul’s strong recommendation: New ARM PCs (Snapdragon X, Elite, Plus, etc.) are now “one of the best laptops I’ve ever used,” with superb battery, reliability, and improved software support.
• Security note: Snapdragons (and Apple silicon) leverage memory tagging and other advanced features, elevating out-of-the-box security, especially for Copilot+ PCs with strict defaults and Windows Hello ESS enabled on all units.
• Caveats: Gamers and specific legacy/line-of-business scenarios should still check compatibility.

“For mainstream users, it just works. The battery life? Excellent. The reliability? Excellent. The compatibility? Off the charts.” — Paul (46:37)

8. Notepad, Paint, Snipping Tool: Everyday AI Gets Smarter

58:16–64:05

• Notepad:
  • Copilot+ PCs will get on-device, offline AI for writing assistance (rewrite, summarize) using Windows ML.
• Paint:
  • Adds support for layers, project files (akin to Photoshop’s PSD), and increased AI/image handling.
• Snipping Tool:
  • Quick markup now supported before saving or sharing; a sign of iterative improvements blurring lines between classic and AI-powered productivity.

9. AI Marketplace: Training Models Legally and Ethically

117:13–121:07

• Publisher Compensation: Microsoft is reportedly developing a marketplace to legally license and compensate US publishers for AI model training and real-time info.
• Goal: Avoid rampant copyright lawsuits and establish a sustainable ecosystem for content creators and AI model owners.

10. Snapdragon X2 Elite & Extreme – Breaking News

138:38–148:49

See: 1:38:40–1:48:49

• Qualcomm announces Snapdragon X2 Elite and X2 Elite Extreme
  • Extreme integrates the memory directly onto the die (copying Apple’s lead for performance/bandwidth), targeting ultra-premium PCs.
  • Performance: Up to 75% faster at the same power as competition; 31% faster, using 43% less power than the previous gen.
  • First ARM PC chip to break 5 GHz.
  • GPU: New Adreno GPU is 2.3x faster per watt than previous; this enables legitimate gaming and engineering applications.
  • NPU (AI): Up to 80 TOPS, twice current gen; “concurrent AI experiences” now supported.
  • Timing: Devices with these chips expected in first half of 2026, possibly later (“Hope it means January, not June, but… frick’s sake, Microsoft, anyway, or Qualcomm!” — Paul).
  • Exclusivity: The Microsoft-Qualcomm exclusive Windows deal is unclear; MediaTek is poised to break in soon.

“Qualcomm just copied Apple: Memory is now part of the die. It’s the right thing to do. It’s all about speed.” — Paul (139:44/139:59)

11. Platform Futures: Android on PC, ChromeOS, & “Buying the Right Device”

75:29–84:24

• Google’s Plan:
  • Android is coming to more PC-like devices, with ChromeOS increasingly running Android at the core (with desktop Chrome).
  • Revealed in a casual “off-the-cuff” Snapdragon Summit comment.
• Platform Advice:
  • For most average users, tablets (iPad especially) or future MacBooks at $600–$700 will be easier and better than Windows or low-end PC hardware.
  • Chromebooks with ARM are increasingly compelling for price/performance, but pitfalls exist if you need real desktop software or a proper shell.
  • Windows “for business/IT departments;” Mac or iPad safer for most home users.

12. AI in Browsers and App Agents: The “ODBC of AI”

121:11–134:42

• Microsoft’s AI Orchestration:
  • Copilot 365 will soon let users choose the underlying model (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.), but the long-term vision is automatic “model orchestration” in the background, invisible to the user.
  • The “ODBC of AI” — a universal, safe interface for apps to connect to AI backends, akin to decades-old database interoperability.

“It’s essentially an interoperability play. The industry as a whole has pretty much agreed how this is going to work. Agents everywhere.” — Paul (122:44)

• Google: Rolls out Gemini deeply into Chrome for all users, with “agentic” features and answer-rich prompt suggestions directly in the Omnibox (address bar).

13. Xbox & Gaming Notes

153:51–156:16

• Xbox consoles see a second price hike (due to tariffs); Series S is up nearly 30% in a year.
• Gaming Copilot in Windows:
  • Now a live feature; Google announced a similar in-game AI assistant (“Sidekick”). The future is gameplay tips, walkthroughs, hints—all via built-in AI.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On ARM laptops:

  "I had in a MacBook Air, an iPad…all ARM machines. It is one of the best laptops I’ve ever used in my life." — Paul (8:22)

• On AI doubts:

  "We’re just cruising down the trough of disillusionment." — Richard (21:39)

• On Apple and Microsoft:

  “Windows is designed for someone with an IT department, or to be the IT department.” — Leo (85:02)

• On the ODBC of AI:

  "We’re seeing that in AI… all about agents and interoperability. It’s the ODBC of AI.” — Paul (122:44)

• On Qualcomm copying Apple:

  “Qualcomm makes X2 Elite faster by copying Apple.” — Paul (139:59, tongue-in-cheek)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Snapdragon Summit and ARM Laptops: 00:00–10:51
• Windows 25H2 News: 03:25–08:22
• NPU/AI Hype Debate: 19:04–21:39
• Debate: What Device Should You Buy? 75:29–84:24
• Snapshots of AI in Everyday Apps: 58:16–64:05
• Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme Announced: 138:38–148:49
• ODBC of AI / Agents Discourse: 121:07–134:42

Tone & Atmosphere

Even with in-depth technical content, the atmosphere is warm, sardonic, and informed by decades of experience. Banter about airports, ARM batteries, and bartenders’ wisdom collides with deep skepticism about hype cycles and genuine excitement for new hardware and OS directions.

Final Reflections

This episode is essential listening for anyone tracking Microsoft and Windows, the evolution of the PC hardware landscape, and the way AI is seeping into every layer—from chipsets to browsers to snipping tools and web search. The Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme’s reveal and the “ODBC of AI” metaphor are highlights that frame a future where hardware and software become interwoven—and where users may at last get what Apple fans have taken for granted for years: It just works.

Listen for:

• Deep context on ARM vs. Intel vs. AMD for Windows
• Early signals on Android as a “real” desktop OS
• Why the next big AI leap is invisible orchestration, not chatbots
• Reflections on choosing platforms amid ecosystem shifts

(For detailed technical or business notes, see full transcript or tune to the indicated timestamps!)