We were accompanying Intel at the MWC 2024 held in Barcelona, which was the scenario in which the company promoted the AI PC presented at the end of last year and at the CES in Las Vegas. Within the space that Intel had at MWC, highlighted the showroom that showed the technologies associated with this new PC paradigm, including the new vPRO platform and its integration with Microsoft Copilot.
All in all, the announcement firsts started with the new Intel Core Ultra processors, a release that David Feng, Vice President, Client Computing Group and General Manager of Client Segments, described at the press conference as “the biggest update in forty years”. The new processors offer high performance, improved energy efficiency and the integrated Intel Arc GPU. Among the hundred vendors that are already working on these new AI PCs, include Acer, ASUS, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo, LG, Microsoft NEC, Panasonic, Samsung and VAIO.
With dedicated AI acceleration capabilities in the central processing unit (CPU), the graphics processing unit (GPU) and the new neuronal processing unit (NPU)Intel Core Ultra enterprise PCs can work with commonly used applications and a multitude of AI experiences. In fact, the new integrated Intel Arc GPU delivers up to twice the graphics performance of the previous generation and a host of advanced features. This is further enhanced with a new dedicated driver (driver) for Intel Arc Pro (OEM) graphics systems that ensures more performance optimization for creative, design and engineering software.
Referring to the new processors, Feng said: “Compared to a three-year-old PC (Gen 11a), we have a productivity that is 47% higher. And this percentage does not cover the productivity benefits of AI. It is a direct performance comparison with a three-year old PC». The new processors also enable 36% energy savings by running video conferences. “And we have twice the performance of AI, comparing generation to generation,” he added.
“COMPARED TO A THREE-YEAR-OLD PC (GEN 11A), WE HAVE A PRODUCTIVITY THAT IS 47% HIGHER. AND THIS PERCENTAGE DOES NOT COVER THE PRODUCTIVITY BENEFITS PROVIDED BY AI”.
David Fang
As part of the announcements were also talked about the new 14th generation Intel Core processors, which will be at the hearts of a variety of desktop PCs and entry-level workstations. These processors feature a hybrid performance architecture to maximize thermal margin (headroom) when using advanced applications and multitasking.
vPRO: Upgrades in four dimensions
In parallel, there were also announcements about vPRO: the platform that Intel is providing on its enterprise PCs to meet the demands of the environment, satisfying the needs of the IT department, as well as the users. In simple terms, and as explained by Feng, vPRO ensures that the configuration of the computer is correct, as well as connectivity and security parameters, while verifying, among other things, that the firmware is up to date. The impact of these innovations is given in four axes: Productivity, Security, Manageability and Stability.
“In terms of security, we look above, inside and below the operating system. We have improvements in all three layers. Above, we’ve run machine learning algorithms with our threat detection technology for a few years,” Feng explained. Now, Intel has more applications, some of which run on NPUs, to save on power consumption and free up other resources to gain in productivity. In the middle layer, within the OS, Intel has been working hand in hand with Microsoft to improve security. Finally, in the lower layer, Intel is providing a new “silicon” security engine for the chips to keep firmware attacks at bay.
Talking about the new AI PC
Microsoft was also at the center of announcements as a key partner for future AI PCs. On the one hand, regarding the use that Microsoft Copilot in Windows 11 makes of new processors. In addition, the new keyboards will have the Copilot key incorporated (an initiative reminiscent of the Windows key, years ago), which seeks to make the interaction with the co-pilot more familiar based on AI.
“And on top of all this is the IT update to Windows 11, given the End Of Service coming up. For the first time in history this whole tailwind came together to drive a big update here. It’s the first time we see such a big upgrade opportunity,” Feng summed up.
Last October, Intel announced its AI PC Acceleration Program, involving more than 100 ISVs, with specific guidance on what business users want and need. The goal, declared at that launch, was for this program to help bring AI to more than 100 million PCs by 2025. These ISVs are the ones that will have to adjust the software to get the most out of the AI PS hardware. But what things about this PC make it so special?
“It’s the first time we have Intel Core Ultra Core, which has GPU, CPU and NPU (Neural Processing Unit). The latter is new,” said Carla Rodriguez, vice president and general manager of Intel’s Client Software Ecosystem. Intel gives ISVs three ways to run workloads wherever they want.
For a PC to be AI PC, as Rodríguez explains, three conditions must be given:
- You have to include the Copilot key on the keyboard.
- It must be able to run the Co-pilot that comes with Windows 11.
- It must be animated by an Intel Ultra Core processor.
The executive also recalls that vPRO, the other star-component of the recent announcements and the AI PC, is already seventeen years old and began very close to what could be called terminal management (Endpoint Manageability). In this order, one of the ISVs mentioned that are working closely with Intel is GoTo, whose remote assistance tool (Rescue) integrates vPRO capabilities.
The power of Copilot
In dialogue with Craig Raymond, Intel Marketing Engineer, about the new capabilities of future AI PCs in conjunction with Microsoft Co-Pilot, the expert summarized: “It’s available from the cloud so I can make recipes; I can generate any kind of code, I can order website summaries…” and all this interacting with a chatbot.
“FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY THIS WHOLE TAILWIND CAME TOGETHER TO PUSH A BIG UPDATE HERE. IT IS THE FIRST TIME WE SEE SUCH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO UPDATE”.
David feng
To this is added the generative capacity of AI in Microsoft servers, which allows, for example, to obtain an image from the interaction with generative AI. And then the third function would be the OS calls: when I want to mute my PC, or take a screenshot, or set up the workplace. “I can change any of these features immediately from the chat line so I can include an AI message instead of going through all the menus and other elements”.
Craig also talked about Office 365 and a completely new co-driver set, which runs based on the contexts of this productivity suite.
