AI PCs are here but are we ready for them?

There’s a quiet revolution unfolding in personal computing. AI PCs, powered by integrated neural processing units (NPUs), are reshaping what our devices can do. With Microsoft’s Copilot+ features no longer exclusive to Snapdragon-powered devices and now rolling out across Intel and AMD AI PCs, the playing field has opened up. This shift means more people can experience real-time AI features directly on their laptops, without needing cloud access.

ALSO READ: Microsoft rolls out Copilot+ features for eligible AMD, Intel devices

These advancements are more than just background upgrades. From real-time transcription and intelligent photo editing to summarising documents and automating workflows, the power of AI PCs lies in how seamlessly they can support and elevate productivity and creativity. But here’s the catch: most users don’t know the real potential of their AI laptops.

What is an AI PC and why does it matter?

An AI PC isn’t just a faster laptop. It’s a fundamentally new category of computing device designed to handle artificial intelligence workloads directly on the machine, thanks to dedicated silicon called an NPU (Neural Processing Unit).

These chips are specifically built to accelerate AI-based tasks like language processing, image generation, and predictive automation – all with lower latency and greater energy efficiency than traditional processors.

So, what does this mean for you? Imagine being able to automatically clean up noisy audio from a Zoom call, generate AI-assisted presentations on the fly, enhance low-light videos in real-time, or create social media content with AI-generated elements. These are just a few examples of what’s possible with the new breed of AI-powered software running on AI-capable hardware.

Microsoft’s Copilot+ initiative is already tying all of this together by enabling features like Recall (a searchable timeline of your digital activity), Cocreator (AI image generation), and Live Captions (speech translation in real time). These tools were once the domain of cloud computing, but now, they’re becoming native to your device.

The power is there, but most users don’t know how to tap it

As advanced as these machines are, one of the biggest barriers to adoption is understanding. The average user isn’t looking for NPUs or architecture specs – they’re looking for outcomes. Can this laptop help me edit videos faster? Can it create engaging content for my online business? Can it help me work smarter?

The answer is yes, but only if you know how to use it.

Today’s AI PCs are capable of transforming workflows and opening up entirely new creative possibilities, but they often go underutilised. Users either aren’t aware of what features they already have access to, or they aren’t sure where to start. This lack of awareness risks reducing AI laptops to mere spec sheet upgrades instead of the paradigm-shifting tools they’re designed to be.

This is exactly the challenge HP and Croma aim to address with their new in-store initiative.

HP x Croma’s AI Gurukool brings AI learning to the customer

Recognising this gap, HP and Croma have launched “AI Gurukool”, a hands-on masterclass series aimed at consumers. These sessions, hosted at Croma’s Juhu store in Mumbai through April, are designed to help users understand not just what AI is, but how it can tangibly help them in their creative and professional journeys.

Each session focuses on a different aspect of content creation – photography, video editing, and social media marketing – led by an expert in these domains.

ALSO READ: 4 Microsoft Copilot+ features coming to AMD, Intel-powered laptops

Rather than a technical seminar, the sessions are built like creative bootcamps. They begin with simplified lessons in digital photography or videography and gradually move into how AI-powered tools integrated into software like Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Canva, and DaVinci Resolve can automate and enhance that process.

Attendees get to witness live demonstrations, like how HP laptops support real-time tethered shooting and RAW file editing, or how AI can be used to stabilise shaky footage and enhance low-light video clips. Each workshop ends with a Q&A to personalise the learning.

Building real skills for real-world outcomes

More than just educational sessions, AI Gurukool is positioned as a skill-building platform for specific user groups. Young professionals can learn how to generate income through digital content, homemakers can explore how AI tools can power home-based businesses, and small business owners can discover smarter workflows that help them scale.

What ties all of this together is the device itself. AI PCs aren’t just tools; they’re enablers. From fast rendering and seamless multi-tasking to AI-backed software support, these laptops are positioned as creative powerhouses for the modern user.

ALSO READ: 5 ways Copilot+ PCs solve the biggest problems with AI PCs

But none of that matters if people don’t know how to leverage it. With these masterclasses, HP and Croma are making a bet, not just on AI hardware, but on empowering users with the knowledge to use it meaningfully.

If you’re a recent HP laptop buyer and want to see what your AI PC can truly do, you can sign up for a free session here.