AI PCs are a new generation of personal computer that are equipped with Neural Processing Units (NPU) in addition to the CPU and GPU of a traditional PC. The presence of an NPU gives AI PCs the ability to run AI models locally without connecting to the internet or cloud and ups the overall performance of a computer, according to Jen Larson, General Manager, Commercial Client Segments for Intel.
AI PCs are made by many tech companies and are increasingly popular with schools because these provide a way to integrate AI into the curriculum more efficiently while simultaneously protecting student data, and school data overall.
What Are AI PCs
“AI PCs are really just the next evolution of what we all know as a personal computer,” Larson says. “The way that we define AI PCs is really the presence of a CPU, a GPU, and an NPU.”
She adds that standard computers are “capable of performing AI workloads, but really this neural processing unit is able to provide sustained AI workloads.”
Because of that difference, AI programs can be run entirely locally, which offers many advantages for education. It protects student data, allows teacher control of training materials, and can be used in situations when access to the cloud might not be possible.
As such, these can be used for any cloud-based AI application, from personalized learning to lesson planning and more.
“We have really good relationships with organizations like ISTE and ASCD to really look at designing AI assistant experiences that help in that education space,” says Larson. “It’s really being able to help with instruction planning by leveraging the vault of trusted information from those organizations to be able to create.”
AI PCs Have Increased Efficiency Overall
Beyond the AI functionalities, AI computers, which are offered by many computer makers, boost increased efficiency overall thanks to the way the NPU helps the computer run. This can show up in many different ways across all applications that you use, Larson says. From increasing battery efficiency to improving the experience on a video call, such as Teams, AI PCs are better equipped to handle many modern computer workloads.
All this equals better battery life and makes AI PCs an attractive option. The current entry price point is around $1,200, which might make these impractical for classrooms right now. Teachers may want to invest that much for an opportunity to stay on the bleeding edge.
“As folks and educators, teachers, and IT for education experts are looking to refresh PCs, it’s not like your standard PC refresh process anymore,” Larson says. “People are just dazzled by these AI PCs.”
AI PCs and Cybersecurity
The privacy AI PCs afford AI model users makes these an attractive tool from a security perspective. Traditional cloud-based AI tools pose security risks for sensitive data. And many of the companies that offer AI have questionable privacy protections. Beyond that, sending out data to the cloud carries with it some inherent risk.
“Sending any data out, personal data, student data, any kind of data that you don’t want public in the cloud—transmitting that sensitive data really has a privacy risk,” Larson says.
By processing all that data locally and allowing access to AI models, AI computers can help districts bridge the gap between AI use and data security.
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