Microsoft Unveils AI-Powered Image Super-Resolution in Preview Photos App

AI's application in Windows 11 seems to be more extensive than anticipated, as Microsoft launches a preview version of the Microsoft Photos app, introducing a groundbreaking feature: image super-resolution.

Originally developed by Nvidia to enhance video game graphics, the super-resolution technology now offered in the Microsoft Photos app essentially mirrors Nvidia’s approach, utilizing AI/machine learning to augment and fill in pixels.

The result is a significant improvement in image clarity when users open a photo that isn't sharp enough or appears blurry upon zooming. The super-resolution feature can enhance and magnify images up to 8 times their original size, with the processed images being savable and printable.

Currently, this feature is exclusively available to Microsoft Copilot+PC, meaning it requires devices equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus series chips to function. The underlying reason is the necessity for robust AI computing power, which is provided by the NPU (Neural Processing Unit) on Qualcomm devices for image processing, hence it's not supported on other devices at the moment.

However, Microsoft is expected to gradually roll out this feature to more devices. Intel has already launched processors that meet the Microsoft Copilot+PC certification requirements, including NPU units capable of powering AI technologies.