In 2024, the Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) hype train shows no signs of slowing down. To capitalize on this moment, Microsoft and PC OEMs have come together on an initiative to bring what they are calling “AI PCs” to market.

What is An AI PC?

There is both a hardware and software component to being considered an AI PC. On the hardware side, the machine must contain a Neural Processing Unit or NPU. This is a dedicated processor that is optimized for performing tasks related to Machine Learning and AI tasks. If that sounds like a familiar concept in the Apple world, that’s because it is. While likely not the first computer with an NPU, Apple has been shipping the iPad Pro with the Neural Engine (Apple’s own NPU) since 2018. Qualcomm followed suit soon after, and Apple eventually migrated their Neural Engine to their Mac line of computers starting in late 2020.

The software side of being an AI PC is running Windows, at least according to Moor Insights & Strategy. They do, however, acknowledge that lots of AI and ML work happens on Linux. Microsoft is working to leverage NPUs in a new generation of PCs to add new capabilities and enhance existing functionality in Windows. We started to see the beginnings of this effort with the first ARM Surface Pro, the Surface Pro X. It added AI features like Eye Contact, which would make it look like you were looking at the camera even when you aren’t. The Pro X would also support features like boosting the user’s voice during a video call and intelligently cancelling out background noise, all powered by the NPU included as part of the Pro’s Qualcomm SoC. More recently, AI has been surfaced in Windows and other Microsoft properties via its Copilot tool. And there have rumors that Microsoft is building towards a larger Windows release in 2024 that will be centered around deeply integrating Copilot across many core Windows experiences.

Surface Pro 10 As Microsoft’s Leading AI PC

As part of the AI PC rush, Microsoft is supposedly readying a refresh of some of their Surface products, including a new Surface Pro 10. There are a few nice improvements that arerumored, including an OLED display and a wide angle front facing camera. The hallmark improvement will be that utilization of Intel’s new Core Ultra chips, which include a dedicated NPU, to support a host of AI/ML features.

So, how does being AI PC help the Surface Pro product line? Could it help make it a better tablet? Well, in a way, yes. But it entirely depends on how deep Microsoft is able to embed AI and ML into Windows. The Achilles heel of the Surface Pro has always been that is significantly better at being a laptop than it is a tablet. And yes, Surface Pro still counts as a tablet…remember, it isn’t even sold with a keyboard. Windows doesn’t accommodate touch-based devices particularly well, but the right level of AI integration could help improve that experience. AI can serve as an enabler and accelerator for tedious and/or manual workflows. Doesn’t a Windows tablet that you don’t have to fiddle with as much with your hands automatically become easier to use? Maybe you could use Copilot to automatically snap your windows into a configuration you often use with just a tap or your voice. With the rumored AI Explorer interface in Windows, maybe there’s less bouncing between apps, allowing users to focus on a single, potentially touch optimized app to get things done. Maybe AI could even be leveraged ensure the virtual keyboard in Windows actually comes up when you tap on a text field.

Is An AI Surface Pro Enough to Make an iPad User Switch?

It still feels too soon to tell if AI/ML is enough of a differentiator to encourage any kind of substantial platform shift. As usual when new tech and new gimmicks alike come to market, Apple is seen as being significantly behind its competitors. Tim Cook has is promising generative AI features will be coming to Apple platforms in 2024. Keep in mind though, many of the features that are being slated for AI PCs have already been implemented across Apple devices with the Neural Engine like object recognition in Photos and on-device language processing for Siri.

For me personally, no, an AI Surface Pro is not enough to make me switch away from iPadOS. The pull of the Apple ecosystem is real, and for their arguably less competitive offerings like the iPhone, it’s the feature that elevates them above their shortcomings. While I do believe much of the “iPad should run macOS” crowd would be much better off with a Surface Pro, we really haven’t seen an real evidence beyond some speculation that AI features are an actual priority for the average consumer. There hasn’t yet been a killer feature or killer app that’s really moved the needle for normal people. Time will tell if AI PCs end up being a passing fad, or a true revolution.