With the advent of AI PCs, manufacturers are aiming to kick off a new upgrade cycle. But what exactly is an AI PC and how is it different from a regular PC?
AI PC is the trend of the future
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What is PC AI?
Think of an AI PC as a smart personal computer, designed with the right hardware and software to handle AI and machine learning tasks as a professional tool. All aimed at providing AI and machine learning tasks with number crunching or data sifting.
These tasks include a wide range of workloads, with general AI programs such as “steady diffusion,” intelligent chatbots, comprehensive data analysis, AI model training and running complex simulations, and complex AI-driven applications.
This will require a combination of CPUs and GPUs to deliver multitasking capabilities, along with ample RAM and fast storage options. But more importantly, AI PCs will require a new feature called NPUs designed to accelerate AI tasks to make AI tasks faster, more energy efficient, and eliminate the need for data to go to cloud-based AI servers for processing. This ensures systems can operate independently of an internet connection and enhances security by keeping data local.
What is NPU?
Short for Neural Processing Unit, an NPU is a dedicated processor designed specifically to handle the heavy workloads of AI tasks that are typically left to the GPU. While GPUs can power large AI workloads, they can be quite power-hungry, which isn’t ideal for battery-efficient laptops and isn’t very efficient for desktops.
Intel and AMD have both released chips with integrated NPUs.
Right now the NPU isn't ready to take over completely from the GPU, but rather more of a partnership, with both working in tandem to cut processing time while limiting power usage.
But this is just the beginning, and next-generation NPUs could accelerate AI tasks on their own, leaving GPUs to focus on what they do best.
NPU Development Company
Giants Intel and AMD are making inroads into the AI PC space, with lines like the Core Ultra or Ryzen 8000G, each with an NPU to handle some AI workloads. The result is much better productivity, efficiency, and enhanced collaboration.
In fact, Apple was ahead of the curve in 2020 with its own NPU, and it even went further when it unveiled the A11 Bionic chip in September 2017, becoming the first chip with an NPU. Some Snapdragon chips also had NPUs in 2018. While Intel and AMD weren’t first, they really changed things.
PC AI and Windows 12
PC makers are hoping that Windows 12 will make a big push into PC AI in the future. If true, AI will be the foundation of Windows 12, and it will be a way for Microsoft to give Copilot more features and close the gap between Windows and macOS.
Windows 12 will focus heavily on AI
Big-name manufacturers like Dell, Lenovo, and HP are all launching AI PC systems powered by Intel and AMD's integrated NPU processors. But the question is, should you buy them?
On the one hand, the true potential of AI PCs may not be fully clear until Windows 12 launches, and they’ll only give us an idea of what AI can do. But if you’re in the market for a new PC, opting for an AI PC seems like a smart move. Not only does it future-proof your investment, it also offers benefits like blurring the background on video calls and quickly summarizing long documents.
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