businessinfomag.uk magazine 34 COMPUTERS businesses and consumers begin to realise AI’s impact on productivity and collaboration.” HP, which used CES 2025 as the launchpad for several new AI PCs (see box), says that AI-powered PCs should not be viewed as a luxury but as a necessity thanks to the potential of AI capabilities like real-time data analysis, automated workflows and personalised experiences to transform business efficiency. In a recent Q&A with Technology Reseller magazine, Neil MacDonald, HP UK & Ireland Senior Channel Director, said: “As the AI market matures, the demand for devices capable of harnessing AI-driven features is growing rapidly. In our consumer line-up, AI capabilities are already a strong selling point and with the recent launch of the EliteBook Ultra G1i, the world’s most immersive AI business notebook (see below), we expect demand to soar in the enterprise space.” www.contextworld.com performance AI PCs, such as those in Microsoft’s Copilot+ category with NPUs of 40 TOPS or more, have struggled to gain traction and make up just 5% of AI PC sales. “Copilot+ PCs still face an uphill battle,” said Pygott. “Until businesses and consumers see clear, tangible advantages, these high-performance devices will remain a niche product.” Nonetheless, Pygott expects overall adoption of AI PCs to rise as prices fall, software compatibility improves and AI applications mature, pointing out that Qualcomm, Intel and AMD are all introducing new AI-capable chips that target commercial users and address key adoption barriers such as higher price points and unclear real-world benefits. She added: “The AI PC market is evolving, but it has yet to reach its defining moment. By 2026, we expect a shift from passive adoption to genuine demand, as The AI PC market is expanding rapidly, with sales of AI PCs, defined as notebooks with system-on-chips featuring AI accelerators such as neural processing units (NPUs), accounting for nearly 40% of notebook sales through Europe’s largest distributors at the start of this year, up from 10% the previous year. However, analysis by global market intelligence firm CONTEXT suggests sales are not being driven by consumer demand but by chip manufacturers integrating AI-capable processors into new devices. Marie-Christine Pygott, Senior Analyst at CONTEXT, said: “Manufacturers are embedding AI functionality into more devices, making AI PCs an inevitability rather than a choice for many buyers. This doesn’t mean consumers are actively seeking these features.” In particular, premium highWho is really behind rising sales of AI PCs, buyers or suppliers? Luxury or necessity? New from HP At CES, HP launched three Next‑generation AI PCs for executives and mainstream workers, plus two high‑performance workstations for creative professionals and technical specialists AI PCs Notebooks HP EliteBook X G1i. Like all new Nextgeneration AI PCs in HP’s commercial lineup, the 14in notebook comes with an AI personal assistant, the HP AI Companion. This CES 2025 Innovation Awards honoree brings together a collection of AI tools and solutions for content generation, summarising long articles, answering user queries and optimising PC performance. Powered by the latest generation Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processor with up to 48 TOPS of NPU, the HP EliteBook X G1i boosts productivity and performance. HP EliteBook X-Flip G1i. For users requiring the flexibility to switch between presentation/operation modes, the HP EliteBook X-Flip G1i combines the power of an AI PC with the ability to flip between laptop, tablet and tent modes. An HP Rechargeable Active Pen lets users write and draw on-screen. HP EliteBook Ultra G1i. HP describes this premium, ultra-slim 14in notebook Next-Gen AI PC as ‘the world’s most immersive AI business notebook’. The combination of its 9MP camera and AI-powered Poly Camera Pro conferencing ensures professional-quality video, while its dual microphone, quad speaker design and super-sharp120 Hz 3K OLED display help to bring virtual interactions to life and boost engagement levels. With up to 48 TOPS of NPU performance and Intel Core Ultra 5 and 7 processors, it empowers executives to multitask across power‑intensive applications and complete common jobs such as recording video demos and creating presentations in half the time. High-Performance Workstations HP ZBook Ultra G1a 14. Marrying the high performance required for graphicsintensive workflows with a compact design, the 14in HP ZBook Ultra G1a 14 redefines what’s possible on-the-go. The combination of an AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO processor (used on a mobile workstation for the first time), discrete integrated graphics, up to 128GB of unified memory and the ability to assign up to 96GB RAM to the GPU enables the HP ZBook Ultra to tackle workflows not previously possible on a laptop. With seamless multi-tasking between applications, users can engage in 3D design, render graphics-intensive projects and work locally with LLMs simultaneously. In the spring, HP is planning to launch an 18in mobile workstation delivering even more power for pro-graphics. HP Z2 Mini G1a. Featuring an internal power supply and the same performance as the HP ZBook Ultra G1a 14, this mini workstation can be placed on a desk, attached to its underside, mounted behind a monitor or put in a rack. www.hp.com
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