AI PC Basics: What you need to know about the next generation of PCs

12 September, 2024

Lately there has been a lot of talk about AI, especially its integration into technology. As AI continues to be developed, corporations are eager to implement it into their technology in the form of AI powered PCs. However, what is often not mentioned is the environmental impact this new technology might have. This article will explain what AI PCs are and what environmental issues can result from their implementation.

What is an AI PC?

According to Intel, an AI PC represents the next generation of computers with hardware that is dedicated to making AI workloads run more efficiently. An AI PC will allow users to take advantage of new applications, have local AI assistants and intelligently adapt to power consumption habits based on individual usage.¹AI PCs are equipped with a neural processing unit (NPU) that handles these AI workloads more efficiently.

AI Adoption

IDC forecasts worldwide revenue for AI platforms will grow to 153 billion in 2028 with a (CAGR) of 40.6% over the 2023 – 2028 forecast period.²
Canalys’ projects that 60% of PCs shipped by 2027 will be AI-capable with on-device AI capability.³
More than two-thirds say their organization is using AI in 2024 in McKinsey’s Global survey on AI.⁴

Organization use cases

Considering the recent popularity of AI, chances are your organization is an early adopter or currently evaluating the role AI will play in day-to-day processes. While most AI applications such as Chat GPT are accessed online via the cloud, local AI also has its own set of advantages.

See reasons why organizations may adopt a local solution.

Enhanced Security – Running applications locally can keep sensitive material off of cloud-based AI platforms keeping your organization’s reputation safe. AI PCs have enhanced security features and can detect unusual activity or performance in real-time.⁵

Improved Performance and Battery Life – While any PC with an advanced graphics card (GPU) can handle AI tasks, the NPU of AI PCs are much better at handling workloads reducing strain on devices and lowering power consumption.

Efficient Collaboration – With a local AI PC equipped with installed applications, end users can take advantage of real-time translation and other collaborative apps without network dependency or delays.

Environmental impact

While AI powered PCs have the potential to transform our world, they also have the power to deal great damage to it. With these new AI PCs flooding the market, we will be looking at a tsunami of e-waste as organizations begin to retire non-AI technology. The World Economic Forum predicts that by 2050 the total amount of e-waste generated by the world will have surpassed 120 million metric tons.⁶ As of right now, 14 million metric tons of e-waste are disposed of in landfills and with organizations refreshing their technology all over the globe, we can expect this number to increase. Additionally, this e-waste is full of hazardous chemicals like lead and mercury which can devastate ecosystems. According to the U.N., over 57,000 kilograms of mercury is released into the environment every year from improperly disposed of e-waste.⁷ Not only does this damage local environments, but it can cause severe health issues in humans. To lessen the environmental impact of the AI take over, organizations will need to be diligent about making sure they use reputable ITAD providers to recycle their e-waste. You should always conduct in depth research before choosing an ITAD company and should ensure that they have the necessary certifications to properly handle your e-waste.

As a leader in the ITAD industry, EPC is acutely aware of the environmental dangers that the AI wave will pose to the environment. As a certified e-Steward, i-SIGMA, and NSAI organization, EPC has facilities located around the world that recycle e-waste according to all local and regional laws and regulations.

Learn more at: Global ITAD Solutions – EPC, Inc. (epcglobalsolutions.com)

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