What is an AI PC?

Most smartphones can use AI chatbots like ChatGPT or Google Gemini today via dedicated apps or a browser. The same can be done on pretty much all laptops.

But can such laptops be called AI PCs? What is this new term that is all the rage today, and how are they different from regular laptops and desktops? These are some of the questions we will answer in today’s blog.

However, before we dive deeper into AI PCs, we need to understand two key aspects – how AI works, and what NPUs are.

Understanding how AI works

AI or artificial intelligence is a vast, highly complex, and frankly overwhelming world. Thankfully, you don’t fully need to understand the rocket science behind AI working to understand what an AI PC is. At its core, artificial intelligence is the ability to understand inputs, and make decisions on the basis of these inputs.

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Mathematically, these decision-making processes involve many calculations that need to take place in real-time for AI to work. These calculations also require very powerful machines, which are often placed in data centres across the world.

When you use a tool like ChatGPT or Gemini, these tools are actually just connecting to a remote cloud server that does these calculations for you, giving you a response to your question or prompt. This is why these apps require internet connectivity to function.

However, with the addition of a component called the NPU, some of these calculations can be done locally. Here’s how.

Understanding NPUs

The NPU (Neural Processing Unit) is a part of an AI PC’s central chipset, and works alongside the CPU and the GPU. Unlike the other two, however, an NPU is optimised to handle complex mathematical calculations.

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Unlike GPUs, which are also very capable of AI processing but high in power consumption, NPUs use far lesser power, for more sustained, low-level AI workloads.

Just like the power of a CPU is measured in clock speeds (GHz), the power of various NPUs can be measured in TOPS (trillion operations per second). However, it is important to keep in mind that the number of TOPS is not the only performance metric for NPUs. Just like more megapixels don’t mean better images in cameras, NPU performance also revolves around optimisation, and other factors.

Now that you’ve understood what an NPU is, we can finally get to AI PCs.

What is an AI PC?

Any computer that comes with an NPU, is capable of on-device AI, and can be considered an AI PC. These computers are powered by more complex chipsets like the Intel Core Ultra series, which are redesigned to incorporate a CPU, GPU and an NPU alongside each other.

Although still in its nascent stages, AI PCs are capable of doing things like accurate edge detection in video calls, intelligent noise cancellation when you use the microphone, or even better resource management when you’re using multiple programmes or playing a game.

Which AI PCs can you buy right now?

There are a number of AI PCs you can purchase today. These include standard form factor laptops like the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 14, 2-in-1 form factor laptops like the HP Envy x360, or even gaming laptops like the Dell Alienware m16 2024.

Most of these will be powered by the Intel Core Ultra series chipsets. However, moving forward, you will see more AI PC options with a variety of chipsets. These include Intel’s own Lunar Lake series chipsets, which succeed the Core Ultra series, as well as AMD’s Ryzen AI 300 series chipsets and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Plus and X Elite chipsets.