Source URL: https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/14/ai_pc_shipments/
Source: The Register
Title: AI PCs flood the market. Vendors hope someone wants them
Feedly Summary: Despite 49% surge in shipments, buyers seem unconvinced
Warehouses in the IT channel are stocking up with AI-capable PCs – industry watcher Canalys claims these made up 20 percent of all shipments during Q3 2024, amounting to some 13.3 million units worldwide.…
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: The text discusses the growing trend of AI-capable PCs, with a report by Canalys indicating that these devices constituted 20% of PC shipments in Q3 2024, marking a significant growth. However, there are concerns about actual market demand and the effectiveness of these systems for buyers. The text highlights a transitional phase in the industry where vendors are pushing AI capabilities in PCs, but the use cases remain unclear and largely unproven.
Detailed Description:
The analysis of the current AI-capable PC market indicates several key points regarding the state and future of these devices:
– **Market Growth**: Canalys reported that AI-capable PCs made up 20% of all PC shipments in Q3 2024, equating to approximately 13.3 million units. This reflects a 49% growth from the previous quarter, signaling increased production from vendors anticipating higher demand.
– **Sales Performance Concerns**: Despite the surge in shipments, there remains uncertainty about actual sales figures. Industry experts were unable to ascertain whether these devices are successfully capturing consumer interest compared to traditional PCs.
– **Market Saturation and Future Trends**:
– Predictions suggest that AI-capable systems could represent 43% of all PCs by 2025, potentially dominating the market by 2026.
– Canalys reported that nearly half of the AI-capable PCs counted in shipments were Macs, leaving around 7 million Windows-based AI systems introduced.
– **Definitions and Standards**:
– Canalys defines AI-capable PCs as those equipped with hardware capable of accelerating AI workloads, such as Neural Processing Units (NPUs).
– Microsoft introduced the “Copilot+ PC” classification, which adds complexity to understanding what constitutes an AI-capable device based on performance metrics (specifically those with NPUs performing at 40 TOPS or more).
– **Market Dynamics**:
– Analysts suggest that many purchases of AI-capable PCs are replacing older units as the end of Windows 10 support approaches, rather than being driven by specific AI functionalities.
– While NPUs offer advantages in efficiency, they still lag behind GPUs in performance, adding to the conversation about best use cases.
– **Challenges Ahead**:
– Vendors face the challenge of convincing businesses to adopt AI PCs when practical applications for on-device AI remain unclear. These PCs currently appear to be “solutions in search of a problem.”
– Despite the potential benefits, the premium pricing and nascent usage scenarios make it difficult for these devices to stand out in the crowded PC market.
In conclusion, while the shift towards AI-capable PCs is gathering momentum, significant hurdles remain—particularly in establishing valid use cases that can drive sales beyond mere market speculation. Professionals in AI and IT infrastructure should be aware of these trends as they may influence future procurement strategies and technological investments.