According to the survey, 84 per cent of respondents would not spend more for AI features, while only seven per cent said they would, and nine per cent were unsure. Over 26,000 responders already contributed the poll data. This indicates that despite the PC market’s shift towards integrating AI, most enthusiasts remain sceptical of its value.

This suggests that hardware companies should pay attention to the preferences of their core user base. Currently, enthusiasts, who no doubt represent most users on TechPowerUp, show little interest in AI features. Therefore, paying extra for something they do not want is an easy no.

It would appear that many companies are aware of this because they are introducing AI capabilities primarily in their mobile (laptop) segments, which appeal to a broader range of users beyond just enthusiasts.

For example AMD “Strix Point” architecture will feature a new XDNA2 AI accelerator. The company even renamed the series to include AI in the product name (Ryzen AI 9 HX 370). However, the upcoming Ryzen 9000 series is not expected to include an XDNA processor for AI.

Intel’s strategy seems to differ slightly, as both upcoming series: Core Ultra 200V “Lunar Lake” for laptops and Core Ultra 200 “Arrow Lake-S” for desktops will feature an NPU unit for AI tasks.

However, initial reports suggest that desktop NPUs might not offer significant performance benefits (they should have the same architecture as Meteor Lake), with more substantial improvements expected in future generations (Arrow Lake-Refresh). The Lunar Lake, however, will feature a more capable NPU processor.

It is unclear whether new AI features will result in more expensive laptops, as only a few have been listed thus far.