PC brands have found themselves in a unique position ever since the risk of ai pcs. The terminology referrs to a new class of computers that are equipped with dedicated neural processing units (npus) to power artificial intelligence (AI) Capability and Workflows. The chipsets are currently being manufactured by amd, intel, and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon. On the other hand, microsoft is currently managing the software end of ai capability, which is integrating itgrating its copilot assistant access the entrance the entrance
This means that Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMS) do not have a seat at the table that degrees and experts of the ai features in the laptops dubbed ai pcs (or copilot+ pcs, IF AI PCS, IF AI PCS Specified requirements). This does not render oems toothless since a large part of the experience, such as the choice of components, premiumness of the material, optimization of the processor, and battery life, is still driven from. However, when it comes to the marketing jargon of ai pcs, these highlights tend to take a backseat.
Does this meaning oemes are dependent on the narratives And just how can they distinguish themselves from competitors when it comes to showcasing the unique seling proposation (usp) of their devices?
Questions are many, and to understand how pc brands are looking at the ai pc market and their go-to-market strategy, gadgets 360 spoke with vineet gehani, Senior Director-Personal Systems Category, HP India.
The question about adoption
The second generation of ai pcs has counted burgt about the question of the adoption of ai pcs. The global ai pc market was valued at $ 48.69 billion in 2024 and is projection to grow to $ 91.23 billion in 2025, reflecting a compound Annual Growth Rate (Cagr) of 87.37. Marketsandmarkets. Meanwhile, Research and Markets Estimates The Global Laptop Market to Be Work $ 221.87 Billion in 2024, Rising to $ 241.37 billion in 2025. Overall laptop segment next year, up from 21.95 percent in 2024.
Gehani believes the evolution of the technology and a push for on-device ai was the primary drivers behind hp’s growth.
“We want to make ai real for users, and that’s why we are not just talking about Productive, and Collaborative While Not Compromising Security, “He Added.
While increasing use cases are great news for that who want more out of their laptops, a mayor barrier is also the price point. Addressing the concern, gehani said, “We are expected this to the nature range of products that we carry to market. So, other than the absolute entry level, all of the other products is ai-enablled. It’s about making the technology more accessible and making it more affordable. “
Hp’s role in ai pcs
The OEM vs AI Provider Conversation is also interesting. We are asked gehani wheether he felt brands felt the narrow of the ai-driven devices was moving away from them and going towards Chipmakers and OS Developers.
His Response was a success, “If i was to flip the question, how would they carry it (the technology) to market?”
The message was clear. HP believes it controls the end product, and as such, the power of narrative remains in its hands. Additional, from an ecosystem percective, Each Player is Working towards the same goal. However, this did not answer our main question – how are brands, then, supposed to distinguish themselves from from one another?
Gehani points towards several first-party features hp has added to its ai pcs. There are three of them – the hp ai company, myhp app, and the poly camera pro. The first is an AI-Powered Chatbot and Document Summarisation Tool, The Second is an AI-Enabled Control Hub for Various Customization Settings on the device, and the third is a web camera app laden with ai capabities.
Additional, he highlighted that hp is also invested in Making AI PCS More Power-Efficient. One way of doing it is by optimising the chipset to allow for a divese range of workflows, some of which might not require much ai usage. Apart from optimising power consumption on a hardware level, the company is also working on it on a software level.
“We are using smart sense technology (which can be controlled via the myhp app) Monitors the external environment of the device, ”He added.
Essentially, hp’s strategy with ai pcs is to takeover microsoft and chipmakers are providing and then layer it with the brand’s AI Experience. “We make sure that we are in the best position to carry the technology, and then we layer it for users using in-House tools such tools such as Ai Companion, Myhp, and the Poly Camera Pro,” Gehani explated.
But just differentialing is not good enough in this cut-throat market. Gehani Let us know that hp holds 30 percent of the pc market share in India. But how do uses the company plan to control to hold onto its lead and to build on it?
“The only way to stay ahead in the market is by deeply undertanding customer needs and meeting them through devices – because that uttlely the moment of trurth It, or upgrade. With the Ongoing Refresh Cycle triggered by Microsoft Ending Support for Windows 10 and Pushing Adoption of Windows 11, We see a Strong OPPORTUTY to Grow Said.
What About Upgradability and the Microsoft Factor?
Since AI PCS are in a nascent stage, it is reasonable to believe that the growth in this space will also be rapid. We have seen the same people when laptops first Arrived as a portable form-factor in the 1980s, and then brands such as such as toshiba, IBM, and Apple Continuously disrupted.
So, assuming ai pcs do the same to the modern laptop space, will consumes have to worry about the upgradability of their devices as the existing models get outdated? Gehani said hp is taking care of this in two ways. “When it comes to software upgrades, we make sure to make them available to our users as soon as possible. From the hardware upgradability personal percetic That we run for both individuals and enterprises.
The final topic of conversation comes as a hypothetical question that can be very quickly Turn into a concerning reality. So far, the trend in the ai space is as follows. Brands offer ai features to users for free for a limited period. Once a significant number of users have been onboarded, the company moneties the offering by creating paid subscriptions.
We have seen this playbook with Openai’s chatgpt, Google’s Gemini, Samsung’s Galaxy AI (Which will be a subscription-based service starting in 2026) Platform. The question here is, what if microsoft takes the same route with its windows 11-based copilot features in the future? WOLLD A Subscription Model, which works in the tech giant’s favor, not create an additional barrier for consumers looking to buy ai pcs?
Gehani said hp will continue to honor the offers it has created for the consumers. Additional, the company is also focused on improving the capabilities of ai pcs, and making them more affordable. However, when it comes to what microsoft might do with its ai service, “I think time will tell what happened in the Industry. It is someone is will see as we go forward.”
