The artificial intelligence (AI) boom is rapidly transforming industries and redefining the way we work. At the heart of this evolution lies a crucial but often overlooked tool: the work laptop. As businesses rush to leverage AI, the humble PC is undergoing a revolutionary transformation.
AI Goes Local: The Shift in Computing Power
AI models like ChatGPT offer just a glimpse into the vast capabilities of large language models (LLMs). For companies aiming to tap into this potential at scale, running these models locally—on employees’ devices—offers clear advantages. It enhances privacy, reduces latency, and cuts down cloud-related costs.
A prime example is HCLTech’s collaboration with a major U.S. healthcare provider. Together, they implemented an AI clinical advisor trained on one of the world’s largest medical libraries. The key to its success? Running the model on the clinician’s AI PC, using a neural processing unit (NPU) that ensures patient data remains secure and speeds up consultations by saving doctors an average of three minutes per appointment.
AI PCs Are Becoming Business Essentials
Traditionally, AI models required heavy cloud processing. But AI PCs, equipped with NPUs, can now handle many of these tasks locally. This shift reduces the burden on CPUs and GPUs, minimizes lag, and improves power efficiency—all while keeping sensitive data secure.
According to Deloitte’s chief futurist, Mike Bechtel, this local processing isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity, especially in regulated industries like finance and healthcare. “For them, an on-device AI computer isn’t a nice-to-have; it’s a need-to-have,” Bechtel explains.
A Market on the Rise
Market research backs up this trend. IDC predicts AI PC shipments will soar from 50 million units in 2024 to 167 million by 2027. Gartner forecasts that 63% of all PCs will be AI-enabled by the end of 2026. As demand for smarter hardware grows, average PC prices have steadily risen—a trend set to continue with the AI PC boom.
Device makers like Microsoft, HP, Dell, and Lenovo are already responding. Microsoft has even launched a new hardware category, Copilot+PCs, signaling a long-term commitment to AI-first computing.
“We’re seeing adoption rates that are 20 times faster than when touch PCs first hit the market,” says Mark Linton, Microsoft’s VP of device partner sales.
Real-World Benefits That Drive ROI
AI PCs do more than run generative AI tasks. With their NPUs, these machines excel at power-hungry applications like video editing, video conferencing, and real-time analytics. They boost battery life and keep systems running efficiently by reducing load on traditional components.
“AI PCs deliver performance improvements across the board,” says Alex Thatcher, senior director of AI experiences at HP. “The efficiency gains in everyday applications are significant.”
And as businesses face forced upgrades due to factors like Microsoft’s end of Windows 10 support, the decision to invest in AI-ready hardware becomes a strategic one.
“It’s a no-brainer,” Bechtel adds. “Either upgrade now or face another costly refresh in two years.”
Building the Future of Work
This shift in hardware isn’t just about keeping up with trends—it’s laying the groundwork for deeper AI integration into business workflows. As companies adopt AI PCs, they’re better positioned to implement AI-powered tools and unlock new levels of productivity.
Says Alan Flower of HCLTech, “The productivity gain is so significant that any small premium on AI devices pays for itself almost immediately.”
The result? A self-reinforcing cycle where AI capabilities drive hardware upgrades, and those upgrades accelerate AI adoption. The modern workplace is being reshaped from the ground up—one AI PC at a time.
