Having got off to a slower start than anticipated, sales of AI or AI-capable PCs are beginning to take off, recent figures from analysts and vendors indicate.
AI PCs – ie those equipped with a Neural Processing Unit – first hit the headlines in 2023 to much fanfare, before Microsoft upped the ante by unveiling its Copilot+ PCs last May.
Now, evidence from the analysts suggest sales are beginning to gain traction as next month’s Windows 10 end-of-life date looms.
CONTEXT’s close-up
Research from analyst CONTEXT released today found that AI-capable notebooks are now stabilising at around 39-40% of total notebook unit sales across European distribution.
Uptake has been stronger in commercial than consumer channels (46% versus 29%).
Within this, Copilot+ PCs – which feature 40+ TOPS NPUs – are “slowly beginning to make a bigger impact” and now represent 15% of all AI-capable notebook unit sales, CONTEXT added.
“The AI PC market is beginning to find its footing in Europe,” said Marie-Christine Pigott, Senior Analyst at CONTEXT. “While uptake was initially slower than the industry anticipated, we are now seeing more progress.”
With the Windows 10 deadline acting as a catalyst for refresh, AI-capable devices are “increasingly positioned as the future-ready option for businesses that want to ensure their PCs are powerful and secure enough for future AI applications”, Pigott added.
Gartner’s gander
According to research released last month by analyst Gartner, AI PCs will represent 31% of the total PC market globally by the end of 2025, up from 15.6% in 2024 and rising to 54.7% in 2026.
The percentage for notebooks will sit at 35.7% this year, Gartner said, up from 19.4% last year and rising to 58.7% next year.
Adoption of AI PCs has been “slowed by tariffs and pauses in PC buying caused by market uncertainty”, Gartner Senior Director Analyst Ranjit Atwal said.
“Nevertheless, users will invest in AI PCs to ensure they are prepared for the growing integration of AI at the edge,” Atwal stated.
Similarly, channel partner leaders IT Channel Oxygen interviewed last week said they are beginning to see an uptick in AI PC sales after a slow start.
“It’s slower than Microsoft and the vendors might have expected, and closer to the level that we expected,” SCC’s Andy Wright said.
“Having said that, as customers look at experience and productivity for the users I would expect to see a shift in this market.”
HP’s AI PCs sales surpassed expectations in its latest quarter, CEO Enrique Lores said on an earnings call last month. They’ve hit 25% of HP’s mix a quarter ahead of its plan, he claimed.
