Intel® has always been a trusted name when it comes to processors and with its newest processors, it has proven that this trust is quite justified. The brand’s new Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors are packed with cutting-edge technologies including the revolutionary NPU (Neural Processing Unit) that the brand calls AI Boost. This NPU works alongside the CPU and GPU and is designed to handle low-power AI workloads for greater efficiency. This helps reduce the loads on the CPU and GPU, while also reducing the dependency on the cloud.
It should be noted that this advancement has not come at the cost of performance. The new Intel® Core™ Ultra offers up to 16 cores and 22 threads of performance. This is then further augmented with the updated version of Intel’s Performance Hybrid Architecture. So you still get the P-Core and E-Core clusters, but these are now joined by the Low-Power Efficiency Cores (LP E-Cores). These cores are perfect for scalable multithreaded performance and background tasks. This new architecture even helps to improve battery efficiency without affecting performance or responsiveness. A win-win situation!
As if all that wasn’t cool enough, the new processors are also available with up to Intel® Arc™ graphics. This allows laptops to take on graphically intensive tasks even if they are not equipped with a discrete GPU. So these laptops can easily take on video streaming, content creation, and even some casual gaming.
Thanks to the performance, responsiveness and battery efficiency offered by the Intel Core Ultra Processors, these laptops are capable of some great things. For example, if you are a designer or a marketer in need of images, you can use the text-to-image generation feature in software like Blender or GIMP. This will allow them to generate AI images by simply providing a short text description. As one can imagine, it is a massive game-changer when it comes to finding images as now users can simply create any image they want instead of depending on stock photos.
But what about photo and video editors? Well, AI is there to help them too. When using software such as Adobe Lightroom and OBS Studio, editors can get access to more natural-looking filters. Not only that, but it can also help reduce overall export times. As if all this wasn’t enough, editors will also benefit from automated and faster searches. Which means greater productivity!
AI should also win the approval of the most fastidious subset of laptop users — gamers. That’s because these processors allow for AI-based upscaling technologies such as Intel XeSS that help improve the visual quality of games. But that’s not all, AI can also help with multiplayer gaming. As you may already know, communication is key when it comes to victory in multiplayer gamers. With AI, gamers can use features like Live Transcription and Chat Translation. The technologies will reduce the need to type messages to teammates and automatically translate your team’s messages respectively. This will help improve cooperation and give you the win!
If you are a working professional, the AI will bring in some features that will make those video calls even more productive. When using software like Windows Studio Effects, users can call upon features such as Smart Scene Framing, Eye Gaze Correction, and Low Power Background Blur. The basic idea behind all of these features is to ensure that the focus of the camera remains on you. So others on the call can focus on you and what you have to say. For professionals who might need a little bit of assistance with their work, an AI-powered digital assistant like Rewind AI might be just what the doctor ordered. This uses AI to understand user behaviour and offer a more personalised experience.
But what about the rest of us? Well, AI can also empower a bunch of other features to help us with our daily lives. Suppose you want to write an important email, but your command over the language isn’t that great. With the right software, AI will not only write that email for you but also help out with text messages or even entire articles. It can even keep an eye out for any grammatical errors as well.
Everything put aside, the biggest upgrade that an AI PC can have is on a person with a disability. AI-driven audio-visual features have the potential to promote inclusivity by providing individuals with disabilities an opportunity to achieve the same level of productivity as others.
Now that we know what an AI PC has to offer, let’s look at three Intel® Core™ Ultra-powered laptops that do not compromise on performance.
Acer Swift Go 14
The Acer Swift Go 14 makes for a great option for those looking for a power-packed laptop available at a very reasonable price. At the heart of this laptop is the Intel® Core™ Ultra 7-155H processor. It packs a total of 16 cores, including 6 P-Cores, 8, E-Cores and 2 LP E-Cores. It offers a maximum clock speed of 4.80GHz and an Intel® Arc™ iGPU takes care of graphical duties. The laptop offers 16GB LPDDR5X RAM with 1TB of storage and that should be more than enough for most users. In the display department, the device packs a compact 14-inch WUXGA IPS panel that covers 100% of the sRGB color gamut.
The Swift Go 14 also packs a number of AI-based features. There is Acer Purified View that comes with automatic framing, gaze correction, and background blur to ensure the focus of any video call is always on you. This is then assisted with Acer PurifiedVoice which helps to suppress background noise to make your voice sound clearer. Meanwhile, LiveArt and AlterView help to remove backgrounds from images and personalise their screens with AI-generated backgrounds respectively. The AcerSense feature allows users to access all of their laptop’s AI features in one place.
ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED
The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED is a great option for content creators looking for a laptop with an amazing display. The laptop packs a 14-inch OLED panel with a 3K resolution. This is a VESA Certified DisplayHDR True Black 500 display, which means users should get impressive levels of colour accuracy. This would be well appreciated by photo and video editors.
The laptop is also powered by an Intel® Core™ Ultra 5-125H, which means 14 cores and 18 threads of performance. When paired with the Intel® Arc™ iGPU, the laptop should have all the performance users will need for content creation. Further, it should be noted that the laptop offers up to 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB of storage, which should be more than enough for creators.
The Zenbook 14 OLED comes with AI features like the ASUS AiSense camera that ensures that users look their best during video calls. There is also Two-Way AI Noise Cancellation that uses a large deep-learning database to reduce background noise and make your voice clearer during calls.
HP Spectre x360 14
The HP Spectre x360 14 is a great option for those looking for a premium thin and light laptop. The device packs a compact 14-inch 2.8K OLED touchscreen panel with a 360-degree hinge, which allows the device to be used as a tablet. Adding to its small size is the fact that the entire laptop is just 16.9mm thick and weighs just 1.44kg. This makes the HP Spectre exceptionally portable.
Like the other laptops on the list, it too is powered by an Intel® Core™ Ultra 7-155H processor. So users can rest assured that they have plenty of power on tap, even in something as thin and light as the Spectre x360 14. In terms of memory, the laptop offers 32GB LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB of storage. This should be more than enough for most users.
The device integrates advanced AI capabilities, such as AI gestures for easy control, a Walk-Away lock and Wake On approach for enhanced security, power, and privacy alerts, and screen time reminders.
As one can see, the new Intel® Core™ Ultra processors mark the beginning of the age of the AI PC. The Acer Swift Go 14, ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED, and HP Spectre x360 14 are excellent examples and showcase the versatility of the new processors. Not only will these laptops serve as an excellent way for many users to experience the possibilities that AI offers, but will do so without compromising on performance or portability.
