AI PCs have so far failed to boost global PC shipments. (Image: Adobe Stock – Tippapatt)
The year 2024 has been proclaimed by many tech companies as the “year of the AI PCs”. Microsoft, in particular, is at the forefront when it comes to introducing new features to computers and laptops.
Windows 11 24H2 is equipped with numerous AI features; New laptops even get a dedicated key called “Copilot”. However, the hoped-for market success has so far failed to materialize among PC manufacturers, according to US market analysts Gartner explain in a press release.
The end of support for Windows 10 also plays a role
As a result, global PC shipments recorded a year-on-year decline of 1.3 percent in the third quarter of 2024.
- This decline is also the first since the third quarter of 2023: a positive trend in PC deliveries was recorded in each of the past three quarters.
- The reason lies in the lack of advantages of AI PCs, as Gartner’s head of analysis Mikako Kitagawa explains:
Even with a full lineup of Windows-based AI PCs for Arm and x86 in Q3 2024, AI PCs have not driven demand as buyers do not see their clear benefits or business value.
In addition to the lack of success of AI PCs, another factor plays a role, according to Kitagawa: Microsoft will stop supporting Windows 10 in exactly one year. Before the end of support for Microsoft operating systems, an upward trend in PC shipments is usually observed, which, according to Gartner analysis, has not yet occurred “to its full extent.”
Broken down by manufacturer, the number of global PC shipments according to Gartner is as follows:
| Deliveries Q3 2024 | Deliveries Q3 2023 | Year-on-year comparison | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lenovo | 16.587 | 16.178 | +2.5 percent |
| Hewlett-Packard | 13.572 | 13.531 | +0.3 percent |
| Dell | 9.919 | 10.320 | -3.9 percent |
| Apple | 5.652 | 5.463 | +3.5 percent |
| Asus | 4.983 | 5.136 | -3.0 percent |
| Acer | 4.583 | 4.388 | +4.4 percent |
| Other | 7.703 | 8.833 | -12.8 percent |
| In total | 62.997 | 63.848 | -1.3 percent |
The “Top 6” PC manufacturers look back on the past twelve months with mixed results: While companies like Lenovo and Acer recorded a slight increase, PC deliveries from Asus and Dell also fell.
“As if no one had asked about AI PCs”
This analysis is hotly debated in the PCMR subreddit. The responsibility for the decline is quickly identified here. In the eyes of many, AI PCs are simply unnecessary here – “almost as if no one had asked for them.”
Link to Reddit content
The critics in the comments are bothered by a variety of points. Many continue to see data protection at risk. Even apart from this, some people wonder what an AI PC actually does. By the way, we answered that question for you a few months ago.
- In the Reddit discussion surrounding market analysis, at least currently, the term is only seen as a crumbling marketing façade that doesn’t offer much outside of chatbot-like features.
- In some cases, users can also benefit from the arrival of ChatGPT, Copilot & Co. on work PCs, for example in text-based work.
Now the question is: Have you bought such an AI PC in the past few months or are you staying away from anything with AI in the name for now? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
