PCs redefined: Say hello to your new personal companion

For some time now, artificial intelligence (AI) has been functioning as a behind-the-scenes supporter in our daily lives, silently enhancing efficiencies and automating processes across diverse industries like manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics. Yet, the emergence of generative AI has revolutionised the global interaction between humans and technology, reshaping our lifestyles and work dynamics in irreversible ways.

The UAE is at the heart of this transformation. Last November, the Advanced Technology Research Council in Abu Dhabi unveiled a new company dedicated solely to AI innovation. Named AI71, this new entity is built on the council’s successful Falcon large language models and, in its own words, aims to “leverage AI to solve the world’s most meaningful problems”.

AI71’s launch is an exciting and important step in the region’s mission to become a hub for emerging technology. In fact, according to a report by PwC, AI has the potential to contribute $320bn to the Middle Eastern economy by 2030, with the UAE leading the way with a projected contribution of $96bn.

Yet at the same time, we must recognise that the AI race is not one that any country or corporation should run alone. The enormous scale and impact of this technology make international cooperation essential. The world’s governments and businesses must act in lockstep to ensure that the benefits of AI are equitably felt and that its inherent dangers are effectively managed.

From deployment and development to regulations and ethics, a truly global opportunity needs a truly global response.

The transformation of PCs

As well as throwing up huge, macro questions about the future of humanity, the AI revolution is also reshaping the very essence of the devices we use every day. Take personal computers (PCs), for example, which are owned by more than 60 per cent of internet users in the UAE, behind only phones.

Adding generative AI to a PC can fundamentally change its capabilities, transforming both what it does and what it is. This, in turn, could reshape the role it plays day-to-day, taking it from a “Personal Computer” at home or work to a “Personal Companion” in nearly every aspect of life.

As well as eliminating many of the reliability, speed and privacy challenges that come with accessing AI via web browsers and the cloud, this new generation of AI PCs can also take our human capabilities to greater heights.

Research has already demonstrated AI’s positive impact on worker productivity and quality. Imagine the possibilities when your PCs or (Personal Companion) can integrate your unique company and personal working data with real-time analysis of vast volumes of public information.

From deriving customer insights and conducting financial assessments to creating persuasive presentations, everything will happen more quickly, comprehensively and securely.

AI empowers endpoint security

AI-enabled PCs also play a crucial role in elevating privacy and data security, enabling AI applications to effectively manage risks associated with data migration to the cloud. However, since on-device AI will be trained with sensitive user data, this increases the appeal of endpoints for threat actors, which means that there is a real need for organisations to prioritise robust endpoint security.

Creativity unleashed in your PCs

In the same way, AI could improve hardware performance, leading software vendors are developing their applications to harness local AI processing capabilities too. Whether you use Adobe Premiere Pro for graphics, Audacity for audio editing, Microsoft Teams and Zoom for collaboration or the Microsoft Office suite for productivity, thanks to local inferencing (the process of running machine learning models directly on a device rather than relying on cloud-based services), these programmes will work faster and smarter too.

This can give a substantive boost to creativity. A global survey by graphic design platform, Canva, found that over two-thirds of marketing and creative leaders already consider AI an essential part of their creative toolkit. Meanwhile, a recent exhibition held in Dubai showcased groundbreaking artworks, music and technologies, all co-created by leading human artists and generative AI.

Natural language AI combined with ‘low-code’ development platforms will also let anyone create apps with minimal hand-coding, helping them turn their ideas into real, working solutions. Even people with little to no computer background will have been able to talk to their PCs, build an algorithm or web tool and then publish it as a service.

It will be unsurprising to see companies implementing their bespoke generative AI model for employee use, with PCs being the primary access point.

This new generation of workers will need dedicated AI workstations and shared collaboration platforms to work together across local and cloud environments — something HP is currently building in partnership with NVIDIA.

Furthermore, new roles and opportunities for data scientists and AI developers, as well as huge demand for machine learning as a service (MLaaS), can also be expected with the widespread use of AI.

Reinventing the rules

There are myriad reasons to be excited about how the power of AI could rewrite the rules of the PC as we know it and, in doing so, deliver a future that is more efficient, more personalised, more creative, and more collaborative than ever before.

In the UAE and beyond, technology leaders have a responsibility to help individuals, communities and businesses seize the extraordinary opportunity AI offers. To harness its near-limitless potential to improve lives and livelihoods alike.

Yes, some risks must be mitigated, decisions that must be taken and challenges that must be overcome. But with the right ethical and strategic approach, we stand at the brink of a revolution that can and should benefit everyone.

The future is coming fast. And it may just start with your PC.

The writer is the managing director of the Middle East at HP.