Dell promises 'every PC is going to be an AI PC' whether you like it or not
- Reference: 1708967710
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2024/02/26/dell_ai_pc/
- Source link:
According to the hardware giant, the industry is at the cusp of a major refresh cycle, and what customers really want is an AI PC (even if they don't know it yet).
During a briefing, Meghana Patwardhan, Dell veep for Commercial PCs and Software, told The Reg that while the immediate future would consist of two worlds – one with AI hardware and one without. "Every PC is going to be an AI PC in the longer term."
[1]
Windows 11 has yet to set the PC hardware market alight, despite Microsoft's determination to cease support for Windows 10 and force customers to upgrade their devices. Manufacturers are therefore pinning their hopes on the hype surrounding AI translating into sales as customers, fearful of missing out on The Next Big Thing, ensure that whatever they buy to replace existing machines will be capable of running on-device AI that Microsoft, Google, and their competitors have in store.
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In terms of new hardware, Dell used the Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona to show off new versions of its Surface-baiting Latitude 7350 convertible – "the world's most serviceable commercial detachable," according to the company – and its workstation-class Precision 3680 tower. Other devices in the Precision range include mobile workstations and the 3280 Compact Form Factor PC.
Dell was also determined to present itself as a leader in hybrid working with the Premier Wireless ANC headset, replete with AI-based noise cancellation.
[4]AI PC hype bubble swells, but software support lags marketing
[5]AI PC hype seems to be making PCs better – in hardware terms, at least
[6]Nvidia gives RTX 40 series a Super refresh as AI PC hype takes off
[7]Avoiding AI-capable PCs will be impossible by 2027
Duringt our talk, AI was never far from the lips of Dell's spokespeople as the company talked up the energy efficiency and future-proofing it saw in dedicated AI hardware, such as Neural Processing Units (NPUs) that are increasingly cropping up in CPUs. To illustrate the point, Dell boatsed about how much more efficient background blurring is on video calls when AI hardware is running compared to when it isn't.
Hopefully, Microsoft will soon deliver a version of Windows capable of demonstrating a use for AI hardware that is more than hiding distractions in the background.
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[9]Defining use cases for AI was highlighted as a problem for PC makers in October. Despite the hype surrounding the tech, analysts including IDC have worried that "use cases have yet to be fully articulated." That said, considering an [10]AI PC is just a normal PC with a bit more RAM alongside a decent GPU and NPU, the future envisioned by Dell, where every PC is an AI PC, requires no great leap of the imagination.
Microsoft's arbitrary changes to the hardware requirements for Windows may not have significantly shifted the PC market in the short term. However, Dell is aware that kit issued in 2020 to staff that found themselves suddenly asked to work remotely will have to be replaced. And when it is, the company will have a broad range of margin rich AI PCs ready to go. ®
Get our [11]Tech Resources
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[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/aiml&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Zd0YHhEIf6kVi0iAxoOePgAAABc&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
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[4] https://www.theregister.com/2024/02/09/ai_pc_gartner/
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/23/ai_hype_pc_better/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/09/nvidia_rtx_super/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/08/report_aicapable_pcs_set_to/
[8] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/aiml&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Zd0YHhEIf6kVi0iAxoOePgAAABc&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/10/idc_pc_shipments_sink_q3_2023_ai_to_rescue/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/23/ai_hype_pc_better/
[11] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
@Snowy - Re: NO!
And I would even add, Hell NO!
Browser pushes me towards bing copilock
The more they push the more I don’t want it
Seriously it is just hype 3D tv etc etc
Yes there are some uses like generating fake content to stir up trouble
I need my pc to do what I want it to do NOT dell or MS or Apple
Eventually everyone will move towards a Linux distro
The cost of things these days have reached ridiculous heights
Re: Browser pushes me towards bing copilock - The return of Clippy
Ashto5: I need my pc to do what I want it to do NOT dell or MS or Apple
(Calm, soothing, neutral voice.)
You seem to be trying to write an angry posting. Would you like some help?
Maybe you should take a nap and I will do it for you, you will never need to write another post.
Just go and lie down and relax.
I can play soothing music for you.
There, that's better isn't it.
Just go to sleep and all your worries will go away if you do what you are told.
I am here to help.
(And so on)
There is absolutely nothing to worry about here ...
@Ashto5 - Re: Browser pushes me towards bing copilock
Relax! Microsoft, Apple, Dell and others only want you to pay more for the PC, that's all.
Every PC is going to be an AI PC
Dell support: Have you tried turning it off and on again ?
Yes,It says "I'm sorry Dave I can't let you do that"
Can Dell aim for "every PC is going to be a working PC" first?
Because their latest efforts are just landfill that usually fail in about year 4-5 when corporate refresh time comes round.
@AC - Re: Can Dell aim for "every PC is going to be a working PC" first?
Correction, Sir! Their efforts end in the landfill in perfectly good condition after about 3 years when corporations freak out about lack of support.
This is a bandwagon like I've not seen before. Sure there have been many "must have" largely marketing BS in this industry in the past, but for everyone to go all in on something that really hasn't proven anything yet, I just find bonkers.
I think it's because the public appears, to a large degree, to have bought into the hype. Manufacturers can see money to be had so are simply encouraging on-going buy-in to the hype, may even have fallen for the hype themselves.
For most prior 'must have' nonsense there have always been plenty of naysayers stepping up to say why it's bullshit and they aren't buying it, in concept or with cash. Currently they aren't being seen nor heard by the public.
Unless current 'AI' proves itself I expect people will eventually come to the conclusion it's not as good as they imagined it would be and will eventually be seen as just another over-rated fad.
@Jason Bloomberg - The public doesn't care.
It's corporations hungry for profit that are scared at the perspective people will be too poor to be able to buy their stuff so they must hurry to be on the front line. All existing market are almost saturated so anything that might look as a new market starts a frenzy because they know that the first mover usually takes it all.
I am going to start referring to AI as ALie.
Just like I call Copilot Copy-Lot.
Petty, yes, but it makes me feel better about this garbage that will eventually be used to 'manage' society.
well, he's half right.
Every computer is ALREADY infected with the AI malware. Every computer will be an AI spy gadget, whether you like it or not. Most people want nothing to do with it, and understand it's destructive nature, but that's not going to stop California, or the kids. They know if you target the kids, we will have no choice but to adapt it. It's here people, and it's real, no matter how evil, how disturbing, how destructive, or how dysfunctional. Countries that are for more evil are taking full advantage of it as well. The world you knew... is gone. Better get smart, and get off the computer. Turn off, tune out, drop out.
@Omnipresent - Re: well, he's half right.
I don't think you deserve the down votes. The fact that you are paranoid does not necessarily mean they're not out there to get you.
Re: @Omnipresent - well, he's half right.
Not so much paranoid as right. I'm on an IT tech site telling people they need to put down the tech and turn off the interwebz because they are being taken advantage of, buy some very unscrupulous actors with a lot of money and power. The world is changing rn. The down votes don't bother me. I appreciate the sentiment tho.
"replete with AI-based noise cancellation"
Sorry, since when does noise cancellation need pseudo-AI ?
We already have noise cancelling headphones, and they work fine without bullshit AI.
Talk about polishing a turd . . .
Re: "replete with AI-based noise cancellation"
If they could find a way to cancel all the noise about AI, I could be interested.
@Pascal Monett - Re: "replete with AI-based noise cancellation"
Yeah but in this case you will pay more for them :)
Wrong
I don't want or need an AI PC and these hypes are making me think I should leave the IT world behind. I'm sick of all these hypes (microservices, cloud and now AI) which are only being pushed to increase the stock valuation of companies like Microsoft. They don't care about what the user needs or wants.
A friend of mine mentioned that after 30 years Windows Notepad still doesn't have tabs, but there will soon be a version with "AI" built-in it so it can tell me about what I wrote down. Duh! Who needs this shit? No one, of course.
Re: Wrong
"after 30 years Windows Notepad still doesn't have tabs, but there will soon be a version with "AI" built-in it so it can tell me about what I wrote down. Duh! Who needs this shit? No one, of course."
I'm afraid it does have tabs, though. Well, mine doesn't - my desktop is still on windows 10, and I have no desire to seek out the tabified version, even if it's available to me. But they're a thing in Windows 11.
As I recall, the cockpile explainy "feature" isn't yet in the general release version, and hopefully never will be. But, as you so rightly say, nobody needs it or wants it, so it will probably be forcibly installed by next week.
@StrangerHereMyself - Re: Wrong
It is not for your need. It is for them to extract more money from you.
HAHAHA
PC OEMs are always looking for the "next big thing" that will juice up the long declining PC market. This will be another on the list of failed initiatives that they breathlessly promote as a must have reason for upgrading your perfectly functional PC.
Well that’s a new line of fun
I’m sure there will be a good selection of fun and exciting projects spring up to do something useful with that lovely “AI” hardware that we’re all going to be paying a tax on very soon.
Of course, none of these projects will be “AI” - hopefully they will be much more useful than that
"every PC is going to be an AI PC"
It really wont be for those that are effectively offline or behind correct firewalls.
Unless big strides are made for localhost LLMs hahahaha!
Well if they wanted to guarantee I WON'T buy a Dell
Then they hit the jackpot...
Re: Well if they wanted to guarantee I WON'T buy a Dell
It isn't just Dell - all of them are on the same AI bullshit bandwagon at the moment!
I firmly think they're once again disappearing up their own ass in conflating what they think is cool with what customers want/need. Of course, that won't stop them.
The public
I'm probably just an out of touch old guy.....but I've not heard anyone out in the Real World (tm) showing any interest in this AI bollocks whatsoever, beyond the odd, cynical comment related to how it might be used to send us more bullshit. I don't think the general public are going to be demanding AI in their tech any time soon. Not until it actually offers the buyers, small business or private individuals something that makes life,or at least their everyday activities, better. And even then there is probably a price boundary.iWatches sell because of all the people who want to check their running distances, sleep patterns and such like. People do talk about that. No one cares how the watch works this out though, not even to the point of questioning how reliable it actually is.
It's never the tech that sells devices, it's the functions
NO!
No thank you!!