The patent, published last week, describes an opt-in system, so this isn’t something Microsoft would include as a background Windows task, and it could result in cash payments.
Microsoft is seeking to patent technology that uses idle gaming PCs to train AI models in exchange for some form of digital currency.
Filed in 2025 by Microsoft Technology Licensing and published last week, the patent describes distributing AI training tasks in a system similar to Folding@Home, in which a global network of powerful gaming PCs could use their idle GPU cycles for AI training, PC Games Hardware reports.
The patent, titled Opportunistic Micro-training on Edge Devices Using Spare GPU Utilization (US-20260349820-A1), describes an opt-in system, so this isn’t something Microsoft would include as a background Windows task, at least not in its currently described form. Whenever that system ran idle, it could automatically be looped in to completing portions of larger AI training workloads. The system would then track completed work and issue credits that could be redeemed for use with the resulting AI model, free software, or even cash.
The patent describes a responsive system that tracks utilization of key components like memory, CPU, and GPU, as well as temperatures and power draw, and searches for an ideal time when the GPU is not in use and, in particular, is running cool. The last thing Microsoft wants is its distributed AI training system setting anyone’s PC on fire. Although RTX 50 GPU owners may need to be more careful there.
Users will be able to manually start or stop jobs, too, so it’s not like the system would prevent you from gaming while it churns away on AI training. You’d also be able to set a usage limit to prevent overuse of energy or hardware. Although GPUs don’t necessarily degrade with heavier use like some electronics, I’m not sure whether AI training would be covered by your warranty.
Most people that have a computer. Do you power off every time you’re not using yours?
Not power off, but suspend it every single time I’m not using it. It is never on when I’m not using it. I have never done that. Why waste power and the life of the parts? Seems very unnecessary to me.
Yes
I’m guessing you’re probably in the minority. My computer boots in about 10-15 seconds, and that’s still longer than I want to wait when I sit down to use it. I lock it and walk away. I’d imagine most people are similar, many probably skipping the lock step.
You don’t even put the computer to sleep? If not, you’re paying significant money in your power bill just letting it idle. A higher end gaming PC with a GPU will draw about 130w at idle. Assuming you’re paying cheap electricity rates of about 25 cents per kWh, you’re spending $23.40/month just to idle your PC. If you’re in a place with expensive electricity you’re paying $38-$43/month for the privilege. That’s just for the PC. If your display is on with a screensaver or something you’re paying even more!
If you let Microsoft run your GPU like an RTX5090 at full speed every hour you’re idle, you’re looking at an added $105/month for just the GPU or $187/month on expensive electricity!
I have power management set so that it will suspend shortly after I lock. I don’t specifically hit sleep, it just gets there after like 5 min.