Intel's Japan president Makoto Ohno predicts that half of PCs shipped this year will feature AI capabilities, marking a pivotal moment for the industry. This forecast comes as AI PCs become increasingly common, with Intel anticipating that by 2026 they will represent about 130 million units out of an estimated 260 million total PC shipments globally.

These AI-enabled systems typically include a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) or similar AI processing hardware that allows for local AI computations. However, Ohno notes that consumers aren't primarily buying these machines for their AI features. Instead, buyers are drawn to benefits like improved battery life and better performance from newer, more optimized silicon.

The prediction signals a significant shift in the PC market, with AI capabilities becoming standard rather than premium features. While the AI functionality is present, Intel acknowledges that the marketing and consumer appeal currently focuses on traditional performance metrics rather than the AI capabilities themselves.