Build 2026 is underway in San Francisco this week, and it started with a big, overly-long keynote as always. And Computex is this week, too. There's a lot going on, and some of it is fascinating. Plus, WWDC is next week because you cannot relax. Also, Microsoft GA's WinApp CLI, announces the Windows Platform Skills plug-in for native app creation, and you're not going to believe what Paul did next. OK, you will believe it

Build + Computex = OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD

NVIDIA finally announces Arm-based N1X as the RTX Spark
RTX Spark is an Arm-based portable workstation chip for Windows 11
Microsoft announces Surface Laptop Ultra - It and other RTX Spark-based PCs will appear in late 2026
Some of this leaked earlier, including a lower-end N1 chipset
Microsoft continues to optimize and evolve Windows 11 for developers
Windows Developer Configuration, Windows Developer Skills + WinApp CLI, Terminal, more Linux, and more on-device ("unmetered") AI - Tied to this, Copilot+ PC features are coming to more PCs, with CPU/GPU support - this, plus the RTX Spark stuff hints at answers to some obvious questions but there's nothing concrete from Microsoft
Microsoft Edge is getting three new on-AI features
Scout is a personal work agent powered by OpenClaw
GitHub Copilot app arrives on desktop for your agentic coding and management needs
Microsoft AI announces seven new foundation models
Stevie Bathiche is back, baby! And he's talking about those AI app structures and how they've led to Project Solara

Windows

Microsoft discusses the progress it's made on Windows 11 pain points
You can now test the new Start menu in Experimental - Paul did so along with the new Taskbar
Qualcomm announces low-cost Snapdragon C for $300+ PCs to take on MacBook Neo
And Acer is the first to announce a Snapdragon C laptop
New Surface Pro with Snapdragon X2 leaks for June release (!)
Dell XPS 13 is coming soon with Intel Wildcat (also to take on MacBook Neo)
Dell revenues are through the roof, but not because of PCs
HP revenues are up, and it is because of PCs

AI and dev

Anthropic gets a new valuation exceeding OpenAI and then it files for an IPO
OpenAI adjusts GPT5.5-Instant for less sucking-up and releases computer use in Codex on Windows
Flutter takes the lead on Flutter desktop development

XBOX and gaming

Asha Sharma says you can't please everyone and then immediately jumps the shark trying to please everyone
XBOX delays Fable reboot because of GTA VI
New titles coming to Game Pass in early June across platforms
XBOX starts early testing of new console features
ASUS announces ROG Xbox Ally X20 with OLED display and XReal R1 glasses
Intel announces Arc G-series for gaming handhelds
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 is next and it's the COD we've been begging for

Tips and picks

Tip of the week: Now you can vibe code a native Windows app from the CLI
App pick of the week: iA Writer
RunAs Radio this week: Data API Builder and SQL MVP with Jerry Nixon
Brown liquor pick of the week: Old Malt Casking of Longmorn 20

These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly/episodes/986

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

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WW 986: Liminal AI - RTX Spark, Project Solara, Scout, & Much More!

Windows Weekly (Audio)

WW 986: Liminal AI - RTX Spark, Project Solara, Scout, & Much More!