New research from Forrester Research has shown that emerging AI PCs aren’t all they’re cracked up to be, and they’re unlikely to bring any tangible benefits to businesses anymore.
The company’s report notes that the lack of a “killer app” is keeping companies from reaping the benefits of new, more powerful models.
Calling the production and adoption of AI PCs inevitable, Forrester simply says that the increase in consumer spending on the market is unlikely to materialize yet.
AI PCs are still in their infancy
AI PCs will provide localized processing of AI workloads, reducing dependence on expensive cloud resources and improving latency.
Continued economic conditions have impacted device refresh rates worldwide, and while the PC market has recently shown signs of revival, other factors may also be holding companies back from upgrading right now. For example, many might wait until the initial glut of AI PCs passes before purchasing more advanced models. Others are lagging behind due to their preference for Windows 10, which will reach end of life in October 2025.
Windows 10 has not fallen below 66% market share since its launch, making it the most popular version of Microsoft’s operating system. By comparison, Windows 11 currently accounts for about a quarter (27%) of all Windows installations (via Statcounter).
Despite Forrester’s concerns, other PC market analysts have forecast substantial year-over-year growth for AI PCs. The most recent Canalys predictions suggest that 50 million PCs shipped in 2024 will be AI-enabled. With a total of 57 million devices shipped in the first three months, AI PCs could represent about one in four or one in five shipments this year.
Through The register