I didn’t cover a lot from Mobile World Congress last week – there are many smartphones, and while I track the space broadly for mobility, I’m not one to cover the latest individual product releases.
That said, there was more on the trend of AI-enhanced computers. Intel unveiled new AI processors for enterprise servers and new vPro PCs at Mobile World Congress 2024. The new products include the latest Intel vPro processors for enterprise PCs with improved AI processing, the future Intel Xeon processor code-named Granite Rapids-D with built-in AI acceleration, and the Intel Edge Platform for building edge and AI solutions. Intel promises to leverage AI and automation to improve the total cost of ownership and operational efficiency and introduce innovations and services.
The manufacturers released devices, too, including Dell and HP. In interviews, Dell executives focused on the future: “Every PC is going to be an AI PC in the longer term.”
Why do we care?
I’m not sure we do. I don’t anticipate that customers will be pushing for AI-enhanced PCs and instead will be looking for uses for AI, and when the technology requires the upgrade, they will embrace it. The tail does not wag the dog here. There’s a certain irony now – every device is an AI if it can access the AI models. Sure, we can debate efficiency, performance, or some other metric, but unless the customer wants AI, it’s all irrelevant. So, proving the AI case remains the name of the game.