Microsoft might just be able to deliver that Nvidia Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) killer that companies like AMD and Intel have been longing for. A new feature included in Copilot+ PCs is Auto SR, which is an AI-assisted upscaling tool similar to DLSS. Currently, it’s exclusive to Copilot+ PCs, but Microsoft is leaving the door open for other platforms.
Although Microsoft hasn’t confirmed if Auto SR will run on the Neural Processing Unit (NPU) inside Copilot+ PCs, the fact that it’s an exclusive feature for now gives a strong hint. On the Copilot+ page, Microsoft also says that Auto SR is only available in “a curated set of games” at launch, suggesting that the feature requires per-game integration.

Before you worry that this feature is exclusive to Copilot+ PCs, this doesn’t seem to be the same as the DirectSR feature we heard about in March. That utility combines upscalers like DLSS, FSR, and XeSS under a unified framework, making all the tools accessible in games. Auto SR is actually an upscaling feature. Here’s how Microsoft describes the difference:

“Auto SR is the first AI-based super resolution solution directly integrated into an operating system to seamlessly enhance existing games right out of the box without any input from players or developers. Ultimately, Auto SR simplifies the experience for players while DirectSR simplifies it for developers.”
Despite the exclusivity for now, it seems Microsoft plans to bring Auto SR to more devices. The description reads: “At initial launch, this feature will be exclusive to Copilot+ PCs equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processor,” suggesting broader support will be available eventually.
This makes sense. Although NPUs are widely available in laptops, they’re also starting to appear in desktops. AMD’s Ryzen 8000 desktop processors already have an NPU, and Intel says its upcoming Arrow Lake CPUs launching this year will also have one. If Auto SR is running on the NPU, there’s a good chance Microsoft will roll it out more widely in the future.
We first heard about Auto SR earlier this year when it accidentally showed up in some preview builds of Windows 11. At that time, PCWorld was able to get a hold of the feature and noted that it didn’t provide any performance boost. This once again suggests that the feature is running on the NPU and wasn’t functioning properly at that time.
There’s no timeline for when we might see Auto SR more widely. Other Copilot+ features, like Recall, will eventually be available through a Windows update, and Auto SR shouldn’t be any different.