The AI PC revolution: More than just hardware

In brief

• AI PCs must offer clear benefits over traditional PCs and cloud solutions. This includes AI-native software, optimized models and a robust developer ecosystem.

• Early adopters are tech-savvy, but the broader market needs clear benefits. Focus on solving real "jobs-to-be-done" to drive mass adoption.

• The market will merge and early movers will set the standards. Companies that invest in partnerships and a cohesive ecosystem will gain a competitive edge.

In this blog, we will explore the transformative potential of AI PCs and the critical factors that will determine their success. The AI revolution is here, and the real question isn’t if AI PCs will dominate, but who will lead. Some companies are waiting, hoping that adoption will happen on its own. This is a mistake. Markets evolve when leaders act. AI PCs aren’t just the next hardware upgrade—they’re platforms that redefine productivity, workflows and competitive advantage. Early movers will shape tomorrow’s winners.

AI PCs: A revolution that hinges on ecosystems, not just chips

History is filled with innovations that didn’t reach their full potential because they lacked the right ecosystem. Even the most powerful hardware becomes obsolete if there’s no software adoption, developer engagement or industry integration. AI PCs face the same risk. It’s not only about performance—it’s about creating demand, unleashing network effects and making AI PCs essential tools, not novelties.

The opportunity is significant, but only if you act now. Companies that forge partnerships and shape the AI PC ecosystem early will define the market. The question isn’t whether AI PCs will become mainstream, but what will trigger the inflection point that makes them essential.

The Evolution of PC processing: From CPUs to NPUs

The PC industry has seen significant shifts from CPUs to GPUs and now to NPUs. Initially, CPUs handled all processing tasks, but the growing demands of gaming and professional graphics led to the development of GPUs, which excel in parallel processing for graphics rendering. More recently, the rise of AI applications has highlighted the need for specialized hardware. While GPUs are powerful, they are power-hungry and inefficient for certain AI tasks, especially on edge devices. This has driven the development of NPUs, designed for efficient AI processing. Today, NPUs are increasingly common in AI PCs, reflecting the evolving market landscape.

Despite these advances, most AI workloads still run in the cloud, raising the question: “What is the relevance of an AI PC?” Consumers generally don’t need on-device AI for daily tasks yet, and enterprises are cautious about the costs and benefits of AI PC upgrades. AI PCs must prove their value by delivering capabilities that cloud-based AI alone cannot. The question isn’t whether AI PCs will become mainstream, but what will trigger the inflection point that makes them essential.

The missed opportunity: What most companies are getting wrong

Companies that actively shape demand are the ones that lead industries

AI PCs are at a crossroads: Will they become essential, or remain a niche product? That depends on whether industry leaders actively shape demand or passively wait for adoption to happen on its own. Many companies are taking the latter approach—sitting back to ‘see what happens.’ But markets don’t evolve in a vacuum; they are shaped by those willing to invest early and define the playing field.

Consider a leading consumer tech company. It didn’t invent the smartphone, the music player or the touchscreen. Its success lay in uniting hardware, software and content into an unforgettable ecosystem. Capacitive touchscreens existed, but this company redefined them by emphasizing ease of use and seamless downloads of apps and music. The lesson? Companies that look beyond hardware to develop a platform—bringing in partners and focusing on the full user journey—will set the rules.

While many companies are taking a passive, ‘wait and see’ approach to AI PC adoption, market evolution requires active participation and strategic investment. Eventually, platforms consolidate—just as ridesharing boiled down to a few key players and smartphones largely run on two dominant operating systems. We think AI PCs will go in the same way. They will split the market into those who create a strong AI PC ecosystem and those who have a hard time keeping up.

Lessons from history: Why ecosystems matter

Technology alone does not guarantee success—there are numerous examples of groundbreaking innovations that failed due to a lack of supportive ecosystem. In the early 2010s, 3D TVs were seen as the future of home entertainment, with major manufacturers heavily investing in the technology, inspired by the success of "Avatar." However, 3D TVs ultimately failed because they lacked the necessary ecosystem support. They did not receive sufficient backing from content creators, streaming services, or consumers. Despite efforts by some big players to push for standardization, competing approaches (such as "active" vs. "passive" 3D) fragmented the developer ecosystem and disrupted a consistent user experience.

The failure of 3D TVs highlights that hardware alone isn’t enough to drive adoption. The lack of ecosystem content, consumer experience and industry support led to their downfall. This example teaches AI PC makers the importance of developing a strong AI software ecosystem and ensuring real user benefits.

Why AI PCs need a new approach

Like EVs, AI PCs need more than hardware—they need compelling use cases to power mass adoption

Breakthrough technologies require the right conditions to cross the chasm from early adopters to mainstream consumers. A telling example is the electric vehicle (EV) market: at first, only environmentally conscious drivers and premium buyers embraced EVs. Over time, battery ranges improved, prices dropped and charging infrastructure expanded—leading to wider adoption. This shows how catering to different adopter groups’ needs and concerns can unlock broad market acceptance. It also highlights the power of vision, execution, and first-mover advantage: early investment in charging stations turned NACS into the U.S. de facto standard, prompting multiple automakers to join and offer competitive driving experiences rather than build costly, competing networks. AI PCs face a similar challenge.

They’re currently perceived as premium devices with unclear advantages over traditional PCs, placing them at the early stages of adoption. Early adopters tend to be tech-savvy and open to risk, so companies should emphasize cutting-edge features and the possibility of early competitive gains.

However, winning over the broader market means identifying key “Jobs-to-be-done” (JTBD) that AI PCs can handle better than conventional PCs. The biggest opportunity lies in solving real, everyday problems in a way that traditional systems cannot. Without these use cases, AI PCs risk being dismissed as costly hardware upgrades rather than transformative tools.

Building the future

A strong ecosystem and a clear plan will turn AI PCs from novelty to necessity

Accelerating AI PC adoption demands a laser focus on user experience and alignment across the business. A solid go-to-market strategy must include:

• Identify the jobs-to-be-done (JTBD): Pinpoint user problems where AI PCs create high value.

• Develop industry-specific use cases: Show real impact in healthcare, finance, manufacturing and more.

• Define a clear value proposition: Explain why AI PCs are essential for sustainable growth.

• Strengthen product and portfolio management: Ensure offerings align with your AI PC strategy.

• Target the right partners: Build alliances across industries to gain a competitive edge.

• Upskill your team: Adopt a service-oriented mindset to drive long-term adoption.

• Leverage ISVs, OEMs and SIs: Use broad-scale channels to expand AI PC uptake and reach new markets.

The time to act is NOW

AI PCs represent a major technological leap. But success requires defining the ecosystem, driving adoption and proving real-world value. Those who move quickly will set the standards and secure lasting advantages. Those who hesitate risk being overshadowed. The momentum is building. By forging partnerships, developing compelling use cases and nurturing a robust ecosystem, you can lead the future of AI-powered computing. The time to act is now—tomorrow’s leaders are making bold moves today.

Thanks to contributors: Henna Jaisinghani and Divya Reddy.