Enthusiasts say no to paying extra for AI features
TechPowerUP poll strongly suggests that there is no interest in AI among advanced PC users.
Source: Wccftech
A recent poll on TechPowerUp revealed that an overwhelming majority of PC users are not interested in paying extra for hardware with AI capabilities. According to the survey, 84% of respondents would not spend more for AI features, while only 7% said they would, and 9% were unsure. The poll data was alrady contributed by over 26K responders. This indicates that despite the PC market’s shift toward integrating AI, most enthusiasts remain skeptical of its value.
This suggests that hardware companies should pay attention to the preferences of their core user base. Currently, enthusiasts, who no doubt represent the majority of users on TechPowerUP, show little interest in AI features. Therefore, paying extra for something they do not want is an easy no:
Source: TechPowerUP
Perhaps aware of this, many companies are introducing AI capabilities primarily in their mobile (laptop) segments, which appeal to a broader range of users beyond just enthusiasts. For example, the AMD “Strix Point” architecture for laptops will feature a new XDNA2 AI accelerator. The company even renamed the series to include AI into the product name (Ryzen AI 9 HX 370) However, the upcoming Ryzen 9000 series is not expected to include an XDNA processor for AI.
On the other hand, Intel’s strategy seems to differ slightly, as both of the upcoming series: Core Ultra 200V “Lunar Lake” for laptops and Core Ultra 200 “Arrow Lake-S” for desktops will feature an NPU unit for AI tasks. However, initial reports suggest that desktop NPU might not offer significant performance benefits (should be the same architecture as Meteor Lake), with more substantial improvements expected in future generations (Arrow Lake-Refresh). The Lunar Lake, however, will feature a more capable NPU processor.
It is unclear whether new AI features will result in more expensive laptops, as only a few were listed thus far.
Source: TechPowerUP