AI Revolution: 60% of PCs to be AI-Capable by 2027

Recently, the market research firm Canalys released a report forecasting the sales and deployment of AI-enabled PCs over the next few years. This year, approximately 19% of PCs shipped globally are equipped with AI capabilities. By 2027, as commercial applications increase, this proportion is expected to rise to 60%. This shift will have a profound impact on gaming, business, and consumer markets, prompting chip manufacturers to strategically tailor their product roadmaps.

Another concern is the anticipated increase in prices. As many have predicted, PCs that support artificial intelligence at the hardware level are expected to see price hikes of 10% to 15%. With the Windows 11 24H2 operating system embedding specific processor and memory requirements in its code, there is likely to be heightened demand for high-speed memory, which could further drive up manufacturers’ pricing for devices.

Currently, all major chip manufacturers are diligently integrating Neural Processing Units (NPUs) into their processors and upgrading drivers, APIs, and software frameworks. The introduction of related functionalities by B2B and B2C software manufacturers is only a matter of time. These collective efforts are poised to stimulate the PC market and ensure positive growth.

The simultaneous advancement of hardware and software functionalities is inevitable. Companies like Apple, Qualcomm, Intel, and AMD are expected to dominate the NPU market, catering to the growing demand for AI-based applications over time. Concurrently, corporations such as OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google have invested heavily in consumer-grade, gaming, military, and commercial applications. For most users, recognizing AI functionalities as essential tools will take time, as most common applications now involve generative AI.

Despite the high enthusiasm for AI in the market, challenges related to legal, ethical, and privacy concerns, as well as the energy consumption of AI hardware, cannot be overlooked. The former requires safeguarding user interests, while the latter could lead to significant electricity usage across nations.