We mentioned that 2024 will be all about AI. While Generative AI is the most-talked version, there are many applications of AI that people can benefit from in their daily lives. A good example is AI PCs, which utilize a next-generation processor that has three components: the CPU and GPU that we’re all familiar with, and an NPU that’s meant for handling sustained AI workloads.

The application of AI goes beyond text and image generation: it can also be utilized in managing computer workloads, and intelligently allocating resources to apps that need it so that users get a good balance of an efficient workflow and efficient power consumption. All of what AI has to offer allows to to have a better productivity experience with your laptop.

Next-generation processors like Intel’s Core Ultra processors set the standard for AI PCs, as they incorporate the power of AI not just on the NPU, but also with the CPU and GPU as well. These three AI-powered engines work together to give users a more holistic experience that optimizes computers based on their usage and preferences.

The whole redesign of Intel’s Core Ultra processors starts with the architecture, where they utilize the new Intel 4 process with new P- and E-cores that are optimized by AI to balance workload depending on one’s use. This hybrid design is Intel’s most efficient x86 processor to date and allows ultrabooks to have top-notch performance to match most bigger (and thicker) laptops.

There’s also the use of Intel Arc for the integrated GPU, which gives Core Ultra processors a massive performance boost with programs that demand a lot of GPU usage. The numbers don’t lie, as the Core Ultra 5 offers as much as double the performance gains compared to the P versions of the 12th-gen Core i5 and U versions of the 13th-gen Core i7.

Rounding up the Intel Core Ultra’s new design is a built-in NPU, which complements both the CPU and GPU in handling sustained AI workloads for you to enjoy the best overall performance in a laptop. The NPU is also essential in boosting Generative AI performance by close to double and lowering power consumption in doing video calls by as much as 38%.

All Core Ultra processors support the latest LLMs, transformers, and text-to-image workloads, ensuring you the best possible experience of an AI PC.

Aside from the AI-optimized capabilities of Core Ultra processors, those that are Intel Evo certified aim to give you the best AI PC experience, where you get very capable performance with a long battery life. Intel Evo-certified laptops are capable of running for at least 10 hours on a single charge even with slim laptops, ensuring that you get all the productivity you need on a busy workday.

Aside from the hardware, AI PCs also need the right software to maximize their capabilities. This is where Intel’s AI PC Acceleration program comes into play, where Intel provides hardware and software vendors with the necessary resources to develop the best possible AI experience on a PC with Intel’s Core Ultra processors.

Some of the programs that utilize Intel’s AI resources include Adobe Photoshop, Luminar Neo, Wondershare Filmora, Adobe Premiere Pro, GIMP With Stable Diffusion, Audacity, Microsoft Copilot, and Windows Studio Effect.

A good use case for this is with Adobe Lightroom Classic, where the program has been optimized to maximize the performance of the Core Ultra processor. How good is the optimization? In the case of the Core Ultra 5, we were getting roughly the same performance as the 13th-generation Core i7 while having better overall battery life and with the laptop running less warm while we batch edit large JPG files. What makes the Core Ultra impressive is how it can handle heavy photo editing much better in a laptop that’s thin and light.

And since you’re getting the same performance as a 13th-generation Core i7 with the Core Ultra 5, battery life is stellar as well. In our experience, we were getting around 8 hours of battery life despite using the laptop heavily for photo editing–and that’s with editing large JPG files that take a while to edit without all the AI-related optimizations. 

You can buy AI-ready laptops with the latest Intel Core Ultra processors from brands like Acer, Asus, Lenovo, HP, and MSI with a starting price of Php 50,999. You can buy them in retailers like Gigahertz, Octagon, PC Express, and Silicon Valley.