Microsoft and Qualcomm have just launched Copilot+ PCs featuring so-called game-changing AI features. However, a Bloomberg report says that most buyers bought these laptops for their battery life rather than their on-device AI capabilities. Microsoft introduced three AI-powered features exclusive to Copilot+ PCs – Cocreator, Windows Studio Effects, and Live Captions with Translation. However, many users find that these are not necessary for everyday use. Microsoft also delayed the release of the interesting Recall feature due to privacy concerns.
Snapdragon-powered laptops still put up some decent sales numbers, with Copilot+ AI PCs increasing global PC sales by 20 percent during their launch week. However, industry analyst Avi Greengart said that most consumers bought these AI laptops for better battery life rather than their AI capabilities.
Although AI capabilities have gained popularity in recent months, many software companies still run user-facing AI features in their data centers through the cloud rather than on the device. The giant software corporations – Adobe, Salesforce, and SentinelOne – rejected Microsoft's request to adapt their apps to use NPUs on Snapdragon chips in time for the launch of Copilot+ PCs.
Tweaking apps to run AI processes natively will save companies processing power, thereby costing resources and manpower. “SentinelOne is considering optimizing its products for AI PCs in future development,” said Gregor Steward, SentinelOne's VP of AI, “but will likely limit these devices to a 'substantial proportion of deployed machines.' It will take years to arrive.” The sales force is also evolving. The device has generative AI tech, but it hasn't said when it will roll out the feature to its users.
With only 3% of PCs sold this year expected to have AI capabilities, it makes sense for major developers to hold back on AI features in their apps until they are more widely adopted. Do it. Estimates suggest that it will take at least two years for AI PCs to be in the hands of one in five new PC buyers. According to the latest analysis, by 2028, only 40 percent of new computers shipped to consumers will be AI-enabled.
Consumers are more likely to buy AI PCs, especially those who want the long battery life that ARM-based chips afford laptops (such as Apple-silicon MacBooks), but still stick with the familiar Windows OS. Want. However, many corporate clients may balk at switching to Windows on Arm, particularly those that require legacy apps that are problematic or not even supported by Microsoft's Prism emulation software. .
Marketing to millions
But Qualcomm is still optimistic that the AI boom will help boost sales of its chips, and it's taking a page directly from Intel by investing heavily in marketing. Team Blue's Intel Inside branding was a big win for the CPU company, with the average PC buyer looking for that sticker when buying a new computer in the 90s and 2000s.
Microsoft's Copilot+ PCs are currently on par with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X chips, but that won't be for long as AMD's Ryzen AI 300 PCs will get the same treatment later this year. So, the chip maker is investing heavily directly in marketing, sponsoring Manchester United, with the company paying more than $75 million a year. It is reportedly paying more to computer manufacturers to help with their marketing efforts.
AI PC is currently just a marketing gimmick, especially with Microsoft's Copilot+ PCs with the limited AI capabilities you get on-device. We expect that on-device AI features will eventually be widely adopted, but it will take years.
However, the simple fact that we have another CPU option over Intel and AMD is already a big win among consumers, breaking the duopoly that Team Blue and Team Red have built over the years. Helped to break. Additionally, improved battery life with performance comparable to Snapdragon laptops will force x86 chip manufacturers to innovate on power efficiency or be left in the dust.