The release of Windows 12 is fast approaching (unofficially, 2026 is mentioned), and with it, concerns about hardware requirements are growing. Following the controversies surrounding TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot in Windows 11, Microsoft has a chance to raise the bar once again. This time, the key elements are the deep integration of artificial intelligence, which may force the presence of a dedicated NPU unit, and a dramatic increase in the minimum amount of RAM.

If you are using a 3-year-old computer with 8 GB of RAM, this article will help you assess whether you are facing a free update or a costly purchase of new hardware.

Key New Features and Functions of Windows 12

Before we move on to what hardware requirements you can expect, it's worth knowing what Windows 12 has to offer at all. Speculations focus on three main pillars: AI, Design, and Architecture.

1. AI Revolution and the "System Agent"

This is the biggest magnet for Windows 12. Artificial intelligence is to become the core of the system, not just an additional application.

• Local and Proactive Copilot: The AI assistant is intended to operate almost in real-time, fully understanding the context of your actions. For example, if you take a screenshot, the AI will immediately suggest editing it, summarizing the text, or sharing it with a specific person.
• Contextual Search: End the need to search by file names. Windows 12 is expected to enable searching based on the content you have seen. You will enter the phrase: "That PDF from the client that mentioned last week's budget," and the system will find it by analyzing the text and date.
• Task Automation: AI is intended to automatically optimize system performance, manage energy consumption, and suggest actions before you even think of them.

2. New User Interface and Design

Windows 12 is expected to move away from the design we know from Windows 11 towards a more modern and flexible style.

• "Floating Taskbar": The most frequently leaked change is the taskbar, which no longer adheres to the bottom edge of the screen, but floats above it, along with a new, transparent notification center. This is intended to reference the aesthetic known from macOS.
• Dynamic Login Screen: An integrated weather widget, news, and shortcuts are expected on the lock screen.

3. CorePC Architecture for Stability and Speed

Microsoft plans to transition to the modular CorePC architecture (similar to that used in Xbox and Windows 10X).

• Faster Updates: Separating the operating system from user data is intended to allow for instantaneous, seamless background updates, similar to those on smartphones.
• Increased Security: Isolation of critical system components protects them from interference by malicious software.
• "Lite" Versions: Modularity is expected to allow for the creation of lightweight system versions (CorePC) for lower-power devices or specific applications.

Hardware Requirements – End of the Grace Period

All these new features, especially those based on AI, come at a price. And that price is likely the necessity of owning newer and more powerful hardware.

NPU (Neural Processing Unit): Key to Local AI

As mentioned, NPU is a dedicated coprocessor for AI tasks. Windows 12 is set to promote "AI PC" computers equipped with these units (e.g., AMD Ryzen AI, Intel Core Ultra processors).

The million-dollar question: Will an NPU be required for Windows 12 installation?

• Strict Scenario (Requirement): If so, most computers purchased before 2024 will lose the possibility of official updates. This is a radical move by Microsoft aimed at accelerating the transition to the new generation of hardware.
• Lenient Scenario (Accelerator): If the NPU is only an accelerator, you will be able to install the system, but your AI features (such as instant edits or video analysis) will run slowly, burdening the CPU and GPU.

RAM: Is 16 GB the New Minimum?

Currently, Windows 11 formally requires 4 GB of RAM, but 8 GB is the standard for comfort. This will change in Windows 12.

Why 16 GB? Language models and AI that are intended to run locally must have space in operating memory. If you want to use the advanced Copilot, have dozens of tabs open in Chrome, and work on large files simultaneously, 8 GB simply won't be enough. 16 GB is not a luxury; it is the foundation for comfortable work in the AI era.

SSD and TPM 2.0

• SSD: Although Windows 11 avoided an official requirement, Windows 12 may change this. Fast data access is crucial for CorePC and AI modules.
• TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot: These security requirements introduced in Windows 11 will certainly be maintained and may even be tightened.

Action Plan for Your PC

Windows 12 is intended to be a breakthrough, integrating AI into every aspect of work. The question is: will it be just a technological breakthrough, or also a breakthrough in the pockets of consumers who will have to replace their hardware to fully benefit from the new era of computers?