AI Integration in Next-Gen PCs: A Leap Towards Premium Laptop
PC and microchip manufacturers, facing consumer hesitancy in upgrading pandemic-era laptops, unveiled a compelling feature at CES this week: artificial intelligence (AI).
Companies like Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Intel are banking on “neural processing units” (NPUs) embedded in the latest chip designs to attract consumers to invest in higher-end laptops, positioning themselves against Apple.
Sam Burd, President of Dell Technologies, shared insights into customer discussions, focusing on preparing for the anticipated AI-driven future. The NPUs, designed for efficient AI performance with modest power requirements, are currently underutilized due to a lack of applications, according to David McAfee, Corporate VP and GM at AMD.
Adobe’s creative software suite stands out as one of the few applications currently leveraging these capabilities. During an open house event hosted by Intel, several PC vendors, including Dell and Lenovo, presented their latest laptops featuring demos highlighting the enhanced AI capabilities.
A Dell laptop showcased a unique AI key, the first addition to a Windows keyboard by Microsoft in decades. This “Copilot” key activates Microsoft’s generative AI software, providing assistance with applications and answering complex questions.
However, the current cloud-based Copilot, accessible through the AI key, exhibits noticeable latency in task execution. Burd emphasized the potential for improved speed and lower latency if the AI engines were integrated into the PC.
Moving Copilot onto PCs would require significantly more powerful machines, even with advanced AI chips. Currently, these chips are incorporated into more expensive laptops offered by PC builders collaborating with Intel and AMD. McAfee suggested that, in the short term, the focus will be on premium PCs, with prices ranging from $800 to $1,200.
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