You may come across desktop, laptop, tablet and phone manufacturers tempting you to buy a new device with the promise that it has special AI capabilities, but do you actually need to invest in new hardware to take full advantage of AI?
The simple answer is no. This is because nearly all “AI’ing” happens in the cloud, specifically at physical data centres where thousands of rows of servers are required to compute all the prompts you enter. So, as long as a device has internet connectivity, practically anything can have AI, even a vintage Windows 95, white chassis Tiny Computer with a CRT monitor can be an AI powerhouse!
So why do all the adverts with Computer + AI indicate that devices include some sort of special physical hardware component that is making AI possible? The only real argument is concerning privacy. Where a device has some capability to run AI locally, this can be a benefit and the requirement for AI-specific hardware becomes more logical.
Will a desktop, laptop, tablet or phone ever be powerful enough to run all my AI queries on the device only?
It is unlikely that a device will ever be powerful enough, as there is a limit to the things you will ever be able to do on a device. Currently, no piece of hardware compares to the power of the cloud, so what can be achieved on your device with any special AI hardware will be extremely limited.
Some hardware manufacturers have taken the approach of providing you the option to be able to have AI capabilities on the device, but relenting that, if you take the cloud version it’ll most likely yield a better result. The reason for this is that the frequency of change with AI is so high, that even hardware manufacturers bundling specific AI hardware into devices would hit obsolescence within months. The heavier the power and processing of AI, the better it gets, and there is no let-up in the acceleration and direction of travel for that hunger.
What should I consider when choosing my next device?
Currently, there are no special capabilities you need from a device to use AI. As always, you still need to focus on better memory, a faster processor and compatibility with the latest version of your operating system. If you are upgrading from a fairly old computer, you could also consider buying a refurbished device as you can usually pick up a high-spec model for a great price, and it’s better for the environment too!
