The recent surge of AI PCs in the marketplace highlights two significant trends. First, industry players are increasingly viewing neural processing units (NPUs) as pivotal to future computing advancements rather than mere marketing tools. Second, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are striving to develop a distinctive brand identity within the AI PC sector.
The growth of the artificial intelligence (AI) sector has been remarkable over the past year. Precedence Research reports that the global AI market is anticipated to escalate from $638.23 billion in 2023-24 to $757.58 billion in 2024-25, marking a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 18.72 percent.
HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14
The second trend is particularly noteworthy. AI PCs remain a nascent market, and most OEMs are yet to master software development, leaving them challenged in delivering practical tools that allow users to fully engage with new technology. For a brand to differentiate itself in this competitive arena, it must provide unique AI-centric features not available in rival devices.
HP has recently launched its OmniBook, EliteBook, and ProBook series, specifically targeting this challenge with an innovative solution. Each of its AI PCs comes equipped with three distinct tools: the HP AI Companion, the myHP app, and the Poly Studio webcam. In the past few weeks, I have been evaluating these features to determine their effectiveness for typical users.
The HP AI Companion
The California-based tech company has introduced an AI-powered, on-device chatbot called HP AI Companion across its AI PC lineup. This tool acts as a personal assistant, a document analysis resource, and an interactive method for controlling device settings.
According to HP, the AI Companion operates on a version of GPT-4, functioning entirely within the device, which ensures that user data remains private. The chatbot leverages the on-device NPU and integrates seamlessly with both the system itself and stored files.
Discover in HP AI Companion
The AI Companion features three interfaces: Discover, Analyse, and Perform. The Discover interface caters to users new to AI chatbots, allowing them to ask general questions and assign generative tasks like writing essays or blog posts. However, since the AI is not Internet-connected, it cannot provide information on real-time events. The Discover section also offers a newsfeed of summarized topics to inspire users.
The most compelling element of the HP AI Companion is the Analyse function, where users can upload documents or files for quick summaries. It can even access content stored in the user’s private Azure drive. In my experience, it successfully summarized research papers and longer documents while providing citations for further reading.
Analyse in HP AI Companion
This on-device text summarization capability stands out among similar features that are often offered only on high-end AI-enabled smartphones. Users can compare documents, highlight key points, and filter specific data—all while maintaining data privacy.
Additionally, the Perform interface allows users to control device settings through conversation. For example, if a user finds their display brightness inadequate while using the AI Companion, they can simply request a brightness increase. Other adjustable settings include audio, camera, and gestures.
Perform in HP AI Companion
Moreover, the Perform interface facilitates the maintenance and updating of system drivers, BIOS, and firmware from a single screen. It also displays troubleshooting information from HP support, assisting users in configuring settings. HP claims that the AI learns from user interactions, adapting the device to provide optimal performance.
In summary, the HP AI Companion is a versatile tool suitable for both novice and experienced AI users alike.
myHP
Initially introduced in 2020 as a device management hub, HP has now enhanced the myHP app with AI capabilities. This platform allows users to customize various device features according to their preferences. The home page presents multiple tools and settings, including audio, video, display, touchpad, presence sensing, and gestures.
myHP home page
Each tab provides quick access to various controls. For example, within the System Control section, users can activate Performance mode and select from multiple options. The presence sensing tab enables users to specify how their device responds based on proximity, including settings for screen off times and wake options. Such features allow users to tailor the device’s behavior to their specific needs.
myHP System Controls
The AI integration becomes more pronounced as users interact with the device over time, allowing the AI to recognize patterns and automatically adjust settings accordingly.
myHP Presence Sensing
While the concept behind the myHP app is strong, the overlap in settings may not be necessary for all users. Nonetheless, for those seeking a centralized platform for customization, this could prove invaluable.
Poly Camera Pro
HP has also upgraded its Poly Camera Pro app with AI capabilities, enabling enhanced functionality for its web camera, which connects with various video conferencing platforms like Microsoft Teams and Google Meet.
After acquiring Poly for $3.3 billion in 2022, HP launched the Poly Camera Pro app, which includes a variety of customization options. Features such as background control allow users to choose settings like portrait or green screen, automatically tracking the subject to enhance the visual effect.
HP’s Poly Camera Pro features
The framing tool provides options for adjusting camera settings for different video platforms while ensuring the subject remains centered. Users can also access a variety of built-in templates or create custom designs to enhance their appearance during video calls.
My experience with the Poly Camera Pro revealed an abundance of customization options that are highly useful. The features extend to third-party video conferencing apps, allowing for a consistent appearance across all meetings.
For individuals new to AI-enabled PCs, HP’s offerings present an excellent entry point into understanding the technology’s potential. Since these AI tools operate locally, users need not stress about data privacy violations, gradually acclimating to the AI assistant, which can answer basic inquiries, summarize documents, customize settings, and optimize appearance in video calls.
More experienced users can also access GitHub and Hugging Face to experiment with favorite open-source AI models directly on their devices utilizing the integrated NPU.
