The Future of AI Computers

If you've been keeping up with technology, you’ve probably read about large-scale AI data centers that consume massive amounts of energy. Yet, right now, it’s your everyday computer you should be paying attention to, as its potential for becoming an “AI computer” grows rapidly. At CES, held last week in Las Vegas, there were not only many robots walking around but also lots of discussion about the next evolution of of computers into AI computers.

Imagine a world where AI processing isn’t being done hundreds or thousands of miles away in an AI data center; instead, processing is done locally on your laptop, your desktop, or on your phone. Why is this possible? Because there are now smaller AI models that run sufficiently on their own to no longer rely on the cloud for heavy processing. So, instead of waiting for a server to respond, you can process right away with no delays. Companies like Intel are introducing new 18A Technology chips to compete against TSMC, and TSMC has the 5nm technology, while companies like Qualcomm and AMD are providing ARM-based processors. Due to competition, Intel's share of the PC market decreased from 90 percent down to 65 percent, so the availability of better options will help drive more choice and potentially lower pricing for you.

Microsoft is killing support for Windows 10, thus you should consider upgrading to an “AI PC” with an NPU (neural processing unit) to allow for rapid use of AI capabilities. It sounds crazy, but there are very few apps that can actually take advantage of this type of device.