Enterprises constrained by low performing PCs must use the impending end of support for Windows 10 to accelerate AI transformation.
AI PCs offer a future-proofed investment, enabling IT leaders to replace ageing hardware with Windows 11 PCs designed for the AI workflows that are reshaping businesses.
Moreover, with cyber threats themselves increasingly reliant on AI, this upgrade has the potential to bolster security.
The case for AI PCs
AI PCs represent a fundamental architectural shift. Unlike conventional systems, they integrate a neural processing unit (NPU) alongside CPUs and GPUs, enabling local on-device processing for AI workloads.
A new report from IDC strongly suggests that many IT leaders in Europe are aware of the need for AI PCs as inferencing workloads move from data centres to the edge.[1]
They also need their devices to deliver the kind of performance that can then unleash innovation. Yet 40% cite slow performance as major end user complaint.
IDC’s survey data suggests that the case for migration is robust and that the shift to AI PCs will ramp up quickly. A quarter of organisations in EMEA have already deployed Copilot+ PCs and over 80% say that migration to Windows 11 is “very” or “extremely important” for their organisation. IDC forecasts that AI PCs will account for 93.9% of global commercial PC shipments by 2028.[2]
The route to adoption
To create a secure, well-supported AI PC environment, IDC’s report argues that IT leaders need to consider the transition from multiple perspectives.
To navigate the transition to AI inference at the edge, IT leaders will need to consider which departments or roles are currently using cloud-based AI services and which of these workloads might move to PCs. Specific users and operational environments will require specific configuration options.
Yet enterprises are also cautious. One-third of IT leaders cite data privacy and compliance as top concerns associated with the transition to AI PCs.[3]
Organisations will therefore need to get familiar with the new security tools within AI PCs. The ability to manage mixed PC fleets using the same tools and methods is another likely requirement.
To ensure optimal performance for both AI-driven applications and existing workflows, it’s worth examining the quality of integration between PC vendors and software vendors. Consistency across PC CPUs and the data centre – prioritised by over half of enterprises – is another must-have because it allows streamlined procurement, standardised performance and simplified management.[4]
The window is closing
The Windows 10 end-of-support deadline doesn’t just mandate migration, it creates a timely opportunity to position your end user compute for an AI-native future.
Upgrading allows enterprises to address end user concerns about slow devices undermining their work while also ensuring PC fleets are ready for a dynamic future defined by AI.
IT leaders should also consider the benefits of vendors like AMD, whose technology offers consistency from data centre infrastructure to end user devices.
Will PC fleets be ready for the transition to AI-driven computing? In more ways than one, the choices organisations make during the current upgrade cycle could define their future prospects.
Read the full report, Upgrading Smartly: A Strategic Guide to AI PCs and Windows 11 Adoption, produced by IDC in association with AMD.
[1] IDC, Upgrading Smartly: A Strategic Guide to AI PCs and Windows 11 Adoption, sponsored by AMD.
[2] IDC, IDC Analyst brief sponsored by AMD, Planning for the Future: The Importance of Equipping Your Workforce with AI PCs, December 2024, #US52736624
[3] IDC, Upgrading Smartly: A Strategic Guide to AI PCs and Windows 11 Adoption, sponsored by AMD
[4] Ibid.