Worldwide shipments of AI-powered PCs are expected to reach 114 million units by 2025, marking a 165.5 percent surge from 2024, according to the latest forecast from Gartner.
AI PCs, defined as computers equipped with neural processing units (NPUs), are gaining traction across platforms like Windows on Arm, macOS on Arm, and x86-based Windows PCs.
In 2024, AI PC shipments are projected to hit 43 million units, nearly doubling the 2023 figures, which stood at 21.5 million (see Table 1).
Table 1: AI PC Shipments Worldwide (Thousands of Units)
| Year | AI Laptops | AI Desktops | Total AI PC Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 20,136 | 1,396 | 21,532 |
| 2024 | 40,520 | 2,507 | 43,027 |
| 2025 | 102,421 | 11,804 | 114,225 |
Gartner predicts that by 2025, AI PCs will account for 43 percent of total PC shipments, up from 17 percent in 2024. AI laptops are expected to dominate, representing 51 percent of all laptops by 2025. By 2026, large businesses will primarily choose AI-powered laptops, a shift from less than 5 percent in 2023.
Ranjit Atwal, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner, notes that businesses are already adapting to this technological shift. “The question for businesses is which AI PC to buy rather than should they buy one,” Atwal said. While companies are unlikely to pay extra for AI features, AI PCs will become essential for secure and future-proof computing environments.
