When “AI PCs” became a hot topic in early 2024, they were advertised as a big change in personal computing. These machines were supposed to transform how people work, create, and use technology. Nearly two years later, that promise still hasn’t come true.
Despite strong marketing, new designs, and increasing shipment numbers, AI-powered PCs have not generated the expected surge in demand. Both consumers and businesses seem skeptical about whether AI features in their computers are worth the upgrade.
This has created a growing gap between what the industry expects and how people actually buy. Leading PC manufacturers are starting to recognize this disconnect.
Strong Shipments, Weak Enthusiasm
On paper, the future for AI PCs looks promising. Industry forecasts predict that nearly 78 million AI-enabled PCs will ship in 2025, making up about 31 percent of the global PC market. That share could increase to about 50 percent in 2026 as new processors and operating systems make AI features standard.
However, these numbers hide an important issue: AI PCs aren’t driving real demand. Instead, they are becoming just another part of the product lineup as manufacturers update their offerings.
At CES 2026, Dell Technologies executives shared a candid view of the situation. Kevin Terwilliger, Dell’s head of product, admitted that consumers aren’t choosing PCs based on AI features. Instead, he noted that the “AI PC” label may have confused buyers rather than convinced them.
Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer Jeff Clarke agreed, calling it the “unmet promise of AI.” Dell hoped AI would encourage users to upgrade, but that expectation, Clarke admitted, “hasn’t quite been what we thought it was going to be a year ago.”
In short, the industry got ahead of the market.
A Technology Searching for a Reason to Exist
Experts say the problem isn’t that AI lacks promise-it’s that PC makers struggled to explain why AI should be part of a laptop in the first place.
“There was a rush to sell a technology that no one was sure they wanted,” said HP Newquist, executive director of The Relayer Group, a business consulting firm. He compared the AI PC push to past marketing gimmicks where everyday products were labeled as “new and improved” without real change.
Consumers didn’t clearly understand what “AI Inside” meant. Even corporate buyers had trouble seeing why a PC needed a special AI label when strong AI tools were already available online.
“There was no consumer demand, no urgent need,” Newquist said. “People could already access AI for free online whenever they wanted.”
That lack of urgency has been costly.
NPUs and the Missing Killer App
A key feature of AI PCs is the inclusion of neural processing units, or NPUs. These specialized chips handle AI tasks efficiently and use less power. Their performance is measured in trillions of operations per second, or TOPS.
When NPUs showed up in Windows laptops, the idea was that users would get faster and more energy-efficient AI processing on their machines. In reality, that advantage has been hard to showcase.
Early NPUs launched in 2024 were often seen as underwhelming. Microsoft recommended at least 40 TOPS for advanced Copilot features, but many initial devices offered only around 11 TOPS. As a result, consumers felt the hardware was outdated almost immediately.
Newer processors from Intel and Qualcomm released in 2025 finally met or surpassed those figures, but the damage was already done.
“The platform didn’t get off on the right foot,” said one industry analyst. More importantly, no compelling application emerged that really needed an NPU.
Most AI tasks can still be handled by CPUs or GPUs. The main difference is efficiency, not capability. Tasks might run a bit slower or use more battery power, but for most users, that trade-off is acceptable.
The fact that much of today’s AI processing is done in the cloud complicates matters. If an AI task runs remotely, having an onboard NPU doesn’t offer much immediate advantage.
PC makers and analysts note that they have struggled to show AI features that truly feel revolutionary. Demonstrations often highlight minor improvements, like better video call backgrounds, which users already consider “good enough.”
From “Magic” to Mundane
The gap between marketing and reality is becoming harder to overlook.
AI on PCs was marketed as a breakthrough that would make computing feel more personal and boost productivity. Instead, many users experience it as little more than incremental changes or invisible features.
“Most AI features feel like utility, not magic,” said one technology analyst. “There’s no clear before-and-after moment.”
Without a strong use case that only an AI PC can provide, buyers revert to familiar factors: price, battery life, weight, and overall performance. AI becomes a side note rather than a standout feature.
Experts argue the issue isn’t that AI doesn’t work-it’s that it doesn’t feel essential yet.
Software Stumbles and Trust Issues
Software missteps have also weakened confidence in AI PCs.
Microsoft’s initial AI-focused rollout of Windows featured just two key applications: Recall and Cocreator. Recall had to be retracted due to privacy concerns, while Cocreator didn’t gain much traction.
For many buyers, the message was clear: this new hardware didn’t offer anything they couldn’t already do-and it came with added risks.
Early AI PCs from Qualcomm faced driver and software compatibility issues. Users not only didn’t see obvious benefits, but also dealt with bugs and limitations that made the experience less enjoyable than traditional PCs.
“Why buy technology that doesn’t seem to do anything-and might even cause problems?” one analyst asked.
Cloud AI Changed User Expectations
Another big challenge for AI PCs is the rise of cloud-based AI tools.
Services like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot have led users to expect AI to be accessible from phones, browsers, and laptops alike. In that landscape, AI feels like software that follows the user, not a feature tied to one specific device.
“When the best AI experience moves seamlessly across devices, it becomes much harder for a single laptop to stand out,” said a marketing strategist who works with enterprise tech firms.
Unless on-device AI is clearly faster, more secure, or significantly different, it risks feeling redundant. For many users, AI built into hardware feels less like a breakthrough and more like an alternative way to deliver the same service.
Enterprise Buyers Remain Cautious
If consumers have been unimpressed, businesses are even more cautious.
Corporate IT buyers move slowly, and for good reasons. New hardware must show a clear return on investment, fit well with existing systems, and meet tough security and compliance standards.
So far, AI PCs have struggled on all counts.
Many businesses see the promised benefits as too vague. “AI-ready” hardware sounds appealing in theory, but without concrete applications tied to real business results, it’s hard to justify widespread use.
Security and governance concerns add more hesitation. Businesses are very aware of the risks that come with AI, including data leaks, inaccurate information, and compliance failures. Those risks exist whether AI operates locally or in the cloud.
From the enterprise viewpoint, AI features often take a backseat to cost, ease of service, and compatibility with current systems.
A Transitional Label, Not a Destination
Despite slow growth, few analysts think AI PCs are a dead end. Instead, many view them as a clunky transitional phase.
“One day, all PCs will be AI PCs,” said a consumer technology analyst. “Just like all laptops eventually became thin and light.”
In that sense, “AI PC” may only be a temporary label-useful for raising awareness but ultimately unnecessary. Over time, AI features will become standard, integrated into operating systems and hardware by default.
When that happens, users may stop asking what makes a PC an “AI PC” and simply take those features for granted.
The Road Ahead Looks Uneven
In the near term, however, adoption is likely to stay slow.
Ongoing component shortages are expected to raise PC prices through much of 2026. With higher costs and unclear benefits, many consumers will probably keep their current machines longer.
Others may choose cheaper replacements, delay upgrading operating systems, or look for options with lower hardware demands and less integrated AI.
For now, the industry seems to be adjusting. The rush to market AI as a game-changing feature has given way to a more realistic understanding: technology alone doesn’t create demand.
Until AI PCs can clearly demonstrate everyday value that users can feel right away, their promise will remain just that-a promise still waiting to be fulfilled.
