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Microsoft has introduced a new generation of computers equipped with NVIDIA processors and designed to run artificial intelligence models and AI agents directly on the device.

The announcement was made during a Microsoft event in San Francisco as part of the city’s Technology Week. The company revealed pricing and specifications for the Surface Laptop Ultra, alongside a new workstation called the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box. Both devices are built around NVIDIA’s new RTX Spark chip.

At the same time, Microsoft is redesigning parts of Windows 11 to make it easier and safer for users and developers to run AI agents.

Surface Laptop Ultra Starts at $2,600

The Surface Laptop Ultra is available in two main configurations. The entry-level model starts at $2,600, while a version equipped with a more powerful chip starts at $3,700.

Prices increase depending on the amount of memory and storage, reaching approximately $5,900 for the highest configuration. Microsoft said the most expensive version has already sold out.

The company also introduced the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box, which starts at $6,000 and comes with several Microsoft development tools, including VS Code, GitHub Copilot CLI, WSL and PowerShell 7.

Both devices are primarily aimed at developers who need to run AI models directly on their computers instead of relying continuously on cloud-based services.

Microsoft Brings Local AI Processing to Windows PCs

Microsoft says the new computers are designed to run AI models locally without ongoing cloud operating fees.

The devices combine the capabilities of the CPU, GPU and unified memory, along with internal hardware modifications designed to support demanding workloads. These changes include more powerful cooling systems capable of handling intensive AI processing.

The approach gives developers an alternative to depending entirely on remote computing infrastructure when developing and testing AI models and agents.

Windows 11 Adds Execution Containers for AI Agents

Microsoft’s changes extend beyond hardware. The new Surface devices run a redesigned version of Windows 11 that introduces a feature called Execution Containers.

The technology allows AI agents to operate inside isolated environments, creating clearer boundaries around the system resources and actions they can access.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said during the event that Execution Containers will not remain exclusive to the new computers and will eventually be available to all Windows 11 users.

Nadella explained that Microsoft has learned over the past three or four years that having a powerful AI model alone is not enough to handle complex tasks.

According to Nadella, users also need an orchestration layer capable of bringing together multiple models, context, memory and the actions that an AI system can perform.

Microsoft plans to make these capabilities available not only for its own applications, but also for applications built around AI agents from other companies.

Surface Devices Target AI Developers

The specifications and pricing of the new computers highlight Microsoft’s focus on developers, particularly those working with AI models and AI agents.

Microsoft is also attempting to attract developers who currently use Apple’s Mac computers. Customers who trade in their MacBook Pro when purchasing the new devices can receive a discount of up to $1,000.

The move comes as Macs have become increasingly popular among developers and AI-agent enthusiasts, particularly in Silicon Valley.

Despite their focus on AI workloads, Microsoft says the powerful graphics capabilities of the new Surface computers also make them suitable for content creation, video processing and gaming.

Dell Also Introduces an RTX Spark PC

Microsoft was not the only company to reveal details on Wednesday about new Windows computers powered by NVIDIA RTX Spark and designed for AI workloads.

Dell also announced details of the previously unveiled Dell XPS 16 Creator Edition, which is now available for pre-order. Deliveries are expected to begin later in October.

The Dell computer is priced at approximately $3,800 and can be pre-ordered through Best Buy.

AI Processing Moves Closer to the PC

The launch of these devices reflects a broader shift in the personal computer market toward moving more AI processing away from data centers and cloud services and onto users’ own machines.

With a combination of specialized hardware and software capabilities, the latest PCs are being positioned to give developers the ability to run increasingly advanced AI models and agents locally.