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Brittany Holloway-Brown

Do IT pros in charge of procurement need to think about AI-enabled PCs, or is the hardware only suitable for a niche audience?

AI-enabled PCs are designed to run AI and machine-learning workflows on local hardware, rather than relying completely on services delivered via the cloud. Linn Huang, research VP of devices and displays at IDC, said that IT professionals should, at the very least, explore how on-device AI could impact their organization.

For example, an employee using an AI-enabled PC might rely on local AI software to take notes on meetings, create action items, or analyze small datasets. The device can enable those AI functions without excessively chewing through battery life thanks to the neural processing unit (NPU), which is specialized architecture designed to facilitate AI operations.

These devices are also expensive: Huang added that organizations might hold off on purchasing because of the current prices, which can vary between $1,200 and $2,500, nearly twice what a “traditional” PC might cost.

Do your PCs need an AI upgrade?—CN

☕ AI inside