AI and the concept of “AI PCs” are dominating some of
the discussions in the technology world, with excitement building
amongst enthusiasts and industry professionals. With semiconductor
vendors unveiling new chips and software tailored for generative AI
and other AI applications on PCs, the landscape of personal computing
is undergoing a significant transformation already.
The term “AI PC” in itself is still in its early
days, with ongoing debates about its definition and the benchmarks to
measure performance. While PCs equipped with powerful CPUs and GPUs
have been capable of running AI applications for some time now, recent
developments have highlighted the importance of bringing certain AI
workloads and applications directly to the device.
This has led to the emergence of AI PCs,
currently widely defined as devices with system–on–chips (SOCs)
integrating AI accelerators, such as NPUs, making them capable of
handling AI tasks efficiently.
Despite the evolving definitions, there’s a real
sense of excitement and anticipation surrounding AI PCs. Many are
hoping that these devices will revitalise the PC market, which has
seen a decline since the peak driven by the Covid pandemic. The
promise of AI–capable chipsets is big, offering users the potential
for improved battery life in mobile devices and unlocking significant
productivity gains, fostering creativity, enhancing communication, and
enabling more personalised content experiences.
Recent data from CONTEXT shows a growing adoption
of AI PCs in the European distribution market. In March 2024, 13% of
notebooks sold featured AI–capable chipsets, marking a steady increase
from 11% in February and 9% the year before. While Apple’s M and AMD
chips have been dominating this segment, Intel’s Core Ultra processors
are also gaining momentum. New chip launches by these vendors, both
recent and yet to come, and products based on Qualcomm’s new
Snapdragon X Elite, will further enhance the options available to customers.
Looking ahead, as definitions evolve and
performance metrics are refined, one thing is becoming clear: PCs will
play a key role in developing the opportunities presented by AI.
At CONTEXT we are continuing to monitor and
report on these developments to provide insights into both the PC
segment and the chip vendor landscape.
CONTEXT subscribers will soon be able to read
full details on the processor vendor landscape and on AI PC sales in
their SalesWatch Distribution and Total
Market reports.
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latest news and developments about this and other trending topics by
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