Understanding AI Computers: What Makes Them Different and Why They Matter
Is it stating the obvious to say that AI is everywhere these days? Probably, but we’re not going to be able to ignore it, so we might as well learn all we can about it. One thing that got me curious, because I’m going to consider replacing my laptop soon, is the new AI computers. If I’m going to make an informed decision, I need to learn about it, and you get to come along with me on that journey. Let’s start by defining the term “AI Computers.”
This is what AutoPilot, a GPT add-in for Microsoft Word, gave me when I asked for a brief definition of an AI Computer.
“An AI computer, also known as an artificial intelligence computer, is a computer system or device that is equipped with artificial intelligence capabilities. It is designed to mimic human cognitive processes, such as learning, problem-solving, decision-making, and understanding natural language. The AI computer uses algorithms, machine learning, neural networks, and other advanced technologies to perform complex tasks, make predictions, and adapt its behavior based on data and experience. It is typically used in various applications like voice assistants, autonomous vehicles, recommendation systems, and smart home devices.”
Well, that’s maddeningly unhelpful, and it provides a perfect example of why AI is not going to take over the world. I refined my question to ask, “I need to replace my laptop, and some of the laptops I see in stores have a sticker that indicates that they are AI computers . What does that mean?”
Okay, Bing/Copilot came up with something better, explaining that the “AI computer” sticker on laptops generally indicates that the device is equipped with specific hardware and software designed to enhance AI-related tasks. The key components involved are a Neural Processing Unit (NPU), the integration of Copilot with Windows 11, and a dedicated Copilot button. Now we’re getting somewhere, but I’m still not convinced I need one of these AI computers.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN AI COMPUTER AND A COMPUTER WITHOUT AI CAPABILITIES?
The onboard NPU will mean faster and more efficient processing for things like image recognition and Natural Language Processing (NLP), and it will also have a feature called Recall, which will hold an entire history of the AI activity on that device. It will also be able to do image generation locally, and should have AI tools integrated into certain applications like Photoshop. AI computers, processing the tasks locally, will provide better security and privacy, since the data doesn’t have to go out to the cloud for processing. The dedicated onboard hardware is designed to handle the AI workloads better.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO ME?
Not much. I’m not doing AI-intensive stuff on my laptop. I don’t do deep dives into lots of data, I generate a few AI images a week, I do a bit of outlining for my blogs, and I do a bit of research. None of what I do contains sensitive information, so I don’t care if the world finds out I asked Bing about AI computers. I never send anything about real people out into the ether to have AI process it for me. Photoshop and the latest photo processing tools already have AI integrations built in. Oh, and I’d still need a subscription to one of the AI services in order to use it regularly without having to wait in line.
MY DECISION
Not worth the extra dollars for me. Keep the fancy sticker, the NPU, and the Copilot key. I just need a laptop that does what I need it to do when I need it to do it. Maybe I’ll stick with the laptop I have for a couple more years and see if I come up with a need for one of these newfangled machines.
YOUR TURN
Whaddaya think? If you were buying a laptop this year, would you consider onboard AI to be “futureproofing,” or is the need and desirability of onboard AI overblown hype? Drop a comment below and keep the conversation going.
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