The world of personal computing is about to get a whole lot smarter. With the rapid advancement of AI, powerful GPUs built to handle complex AI workloads, and new mobile and desktop CPUs integrating NPUs for generative AI tasks, the PC as we know it is changing. And this change is happening faster than many might expect.
Research and consulting firm Gartner forecasts that AI PCs will account for a staggering 43% of global PC shipments by 2025. This is a significant shift, moving the conversation from “if” PCs will include AI functionality to “when.” According to Ranjit Atwal, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner, “The debate has moved from speculating which PCs might include AI functionality to the expectation that most PCs will eventually integrate AI NPU capabilities.” He predicts that NPUs will become a standard feature for all PC vendors.
This will have a dramatic impact on all consumers buying laptops or PCs, including students, creators, and professionals. While not everyone will immediately jump into using Windows’ AI features with their new NPU-powered CPU, the shift will be felt even more prominently in the laptop space. Gartner predicts that AI laptops will account for 51% of total shipments in 2025, a number that makes sense given that all new Arm, AMD, and Intel mobile chips already feature AI hardware and are Microsoft Copilot+ ready.
Looking even further ahead, Gartner expects that AI laptops will become the only option for large businesses by 2026. The numbers speak for themselves: the number of AI PCs shipped in 2023 was around 21.5 million, a figure expected to double to around 43 million by the end of 2024 and hit a massive 114.2 million by the close of 2026. Atwal explains, “The question for businesses is which AI PC to buy rather than should they buy one.” While businesses are unlikely to pay a premium for AI features, they will purchase AI PCs for future-proofing, seeing it as the only option for a more secure and private computing environment.
This shift towards AI-powered PCs brings exciting possibilities, including enhanced security, faster processing speeds, and more personalized experiences. However, it also raises questions about the cost of adopting this technology, as well as the accessibility and understanding of these advanced features for consumers. As the PC landscape transforms, it will be fascinating to see how these new AI capabilities are embraced and integrated into our daily lives.
