Lenovo teams up with US chip giants for AI PCs

Chinese technology company Lenovo Group Ltd is partnering with US chip giants such as Intel Corp and Qualcomm Inc to develop AI PCs, or computers with on-device artificial intelligence, in order to meet the growing demand for smarter productivity tools.

Lenovo, which launched China's first batch of AI PCs in Shanghai on Thursday, said these machines can automatically build artwork presentations and synthesize knowledge based on stored documents. They suit a range of users, from primary school students to scientists working in Antarctica, Lenovo said.

Yang Yuanqing, chairman of Lenovo, said the transition of AI from technological breakthroughs to practical applications marks the beginning of the second half of AI's development.

Yang said it is highly important to accumulate user feedback and continuously improve AI technology through real-world applications.

He highlighted the demanding computational requirements for AI-powered PCs, and envisioned a future where every individual possesses a personal intelligent entity that can seamlessly integrate into PCs or smartphones.

Market research company Canalys has forecast that about 48 million AI-capable PCs will be shipped worldwide this year, representing 18 percent of total PC sales, and the figure will top 100 million units in 2025 to account for 40 percent of total PC sales.

Liu Jun, president of Lenovo China, said about half of the company's PC products in China will be AI PCs in the next quarter and the proportion is expected to hit 80 percent for 2024.

Lenovo's newly launched AI PCs are embedded with its in-house large language model which can interact naturally with users, enhancing work, study and lifestyle experiences.

Leveraging local user data, AI PCs continuously improve their understanding and offer precise, personalized services, Lenovo said.

The PC industry is entering an exciting moment, said Cristiano Amon, CEO and president of Qualcomm, in a video speech at Lenovo's meeting in Shanghai on Thursday.

Amon added that he looks forward to working with industry leaders like Lenovo to innovate and jointly build the next generation of AI PCs, bringing intelligent personalized experiences to users.

He said the world is witnessing unprecedented innovation and application of generative AI at an accelerated pace, but the development is still in its early stages.

So far, much of the development of generative AI has been concentrated in the cloud, which will continue to play an essential role. However, generative AI is rapidly evolving and will soon run directly on devices, spanning smartphones, next-generation PCs, to more devices such as automobiles, Amon said.

Pat Gelsinger, CEO of Intel, said in a video speech that Lenovo and Intel's collaboration aims to deliver AI-enhanced PC experiences and foster a vibrant AI ecosystem in China, contributing to the global AI landscape.

He also emphasized the trans-formative role of computing technology, and forecast AI-driven systems becoming integral to daily life, assisting in both mental and physical tasks.

The latest move is part of Lenovo's broader push to seize AI opportunities with comprehensive business transformation and enhanced research and development capabilities.

Yang has previously talked about the company's new mission for the next decade: to continue independent innovation, accelerate transformation, increase employment, expand exports, contribute to corporate social value and fulfill the new mission of leading the AI revolution.