[LINK] 'Microsoft Is Struggling to Get Companies Onboard the AI PC Hype Train'

[Stephen Loosley]

`

Microsoft Is Struggling to Get Companies Onboard the AI PC Hype Train: Report

Microsoft is reportedly having trouble getting some of the biggest names in tech to optimize their apps and add new features for 'AI PCs.'


By Josh Norem July 10, 2024  https://www.extremetech.com/computing/microsoft-is-struggling-to-get-companies-onboard-the-ai-pc-hype-train-report

Microsoft is trying to generate interest in the latest craze in personal computing, AI PCs. These are computers that include a processor with a built-in neural processing unit (NPU), hardware designed to accelerate certain AI-related tasks.

The company launched the first batch of AI PCs in June, but those computers only offered a handful of new "AI features."

According to a new report, there was a dearth of new features because some of the biggest names in tech declined to participate at this early stage, citing the market's small current size.

The new report (paywall) from Bloomberg goes right to the central question of the AI PC movement, if you can call it that, which is how an AI PC differs from a regular one and whether anyone cares.

To hear Microsoft tell it, these AI PCs (all laptops) can use their built-in NPUs to run optimized apps and access new features that aren't possible on regular PCs.

The only problem is that this batch of new apps and features is minuscule.

This is why some companies are holding off until there's a bigger market, which is a bit of a chicken-and-egg scenario.

Widows Recall

The now-delayed Recall feature that's exclusive to Copilot+ PCs will let you search for anything you've seen previously on your PC. Credit: Microsoft

Bloomberg says that according to industry analysis firm IDC, only 3% of PCs shipped in 2024 will meet Microsoft's criteria for an AI PC.

Those requirements include having an NPU capable of at least 40 TOPS of performance, 16GB of memory, and 256GB of SSD storage.

As of today, the only machines with those specs certified by Microsoft include Qualcomm Snapdragon X processors, though AMD and Intel are expected to be certified later this year.

Regardless, for any company to devote resources to this super-thin slice of a massive pie is a big ask, so it stands to reason some companies are keeping their powder dry for now.

Despite the difficulties in trying to convince its partners and customers to jump on board the AI PC hype train, Microsoft and Qualcomm are full steam ahead.

Qualcomm thinks it can dislodge Intel and AMD from their positions in the Windows laptop market and has stated its goal is to capture up to 50% of the market in five years.

Michael Dell is also quoted in the article saying that buying an AI PC now is the best way to future-proof your computer, as it could be a big deal "in the future."

This hesitance by some of the big names in tech, like Salesforce and Adobe, to make Arm-compatible versions of their most popular apps could linger for some time, relegating the pool of "AI features" to be solely made by Microsoft for the foreseeable future.

Those features include the now-infamous Recall feature that has been delayed due to privacy concerns, so it seems like even Microsoft is having difficulties figuring out how to make compelling AI-powered apps for consumers.




Welcome to ExtremeTech comments!  Have fun, please be kind, and keep conversations on-topic. Feel free to criticize ideas, not people.


Log in  Sign up  Sort by:  Best


I_grok_U 2
18 hours ago

I still haven't seen any "must have" AI features, so for me= not interested in a snapdragon that only runs some software, not even a little.


Reply

2  Autobahn
19 hours ago

Companies tend to refresh PC hardware on a fixed cycle.  They don't accelerate that cycle because MSFT or any other company came out with some new tech unless that tech is critical to a project, in which case only very minimal specialize tech is procured to support that project.  Also, companies that support remote workers and BYOD are often providing users virtual desktop sessions to access and those VDI sessions are more than likely not going to support GPU/NPU tech.


--