Should I Buy an AI PC? Complete Buyer’s Guide

Should You Buy an AI PC? Complete Buyer’s Guide 2025

Artificial Intelligence continues to transform the technology landscape with innovative products and solutions, and here in New Zealand, we’re experiencing this evolution firsthand. At the centre of everything AI are AI PCs, personal computers designed to support AI applications locally on your device. For Kiwi professionals, students, and businesses looking to stay ahead of the curve, understanding AI PCs is becoming increasingly essential.

AI PCs are still in the early stages of growth, but they’re already making a significant impact across industries from Auckland to Christchurch. Soon, PCs will be able to handle heavy AI applications more efficiently. Your regular PC will be more responsive to your needs and demands, predict your habits, and create efficient systems for your day-to-day tasks. Whether you’re working from a Wellington co-working space or managing a creative studio in Queenstown, AI PCs offer capabilities that traditional computers simply can’t match.

Contents

What Is an AI PC and How Does It Work?
The NPU—Neural Processing Unit Benefits
TOPS and AI Performance—What It Means
Real-World AI-Powered Laptop Benefits
Who Should Consider Buying an AI PC?
Cost vs. Value Analysis
Making the Right Choice for Your Needs
Conclusion
Summary of Recommendations

What Is an AI PC and How Does It Work?

AI PC Definition: An AI PC is a personal computer equipped with specialised hardware (NPU) designed to run AI applications locally on the device, without needing cloud connectivity.

An AI PC is a personal computer designed to run AI applications locally—that is, on the device itself. So let’s take OpenAI’s models as an example: if your computer can run open-weight models like GPT-OSS-20B and GPT-OSS-120B without having to go online and tap into the cloud, it’s ideally and broadly speaking an AI PC.

Key Components of an AI PC

NPU (Neural Processing Unit) - Specialised chip for AI tasks
Enhanced CPU - Traditional processor with AI capabilities
Upgraded GPU - Graphics card optimised for AI rendering
High-capacity RAM - 16GB minimum for efficient multitasking
Fast SSD storage - Quick data transfer for AI operations

HP has a line of AI-capable laptops with varying capacities and features, thanks to innovative hardware, software, and motherboard firmware. These PCs, from simple to advanced, ensure efficient operation of AI applications and are also designed to retain some relevance, even as AI tech advances (future-proofing).

Understanding what an AI PC does is crucial to picking the best one for your workflow. It’s important to consider hardware and software options, alongside proven performance in real-life scenarios. Let’s explore some artificial intelligence computer features.

The NPU—Neural Processing Unit Benefits

Key Insight: NPUs can perform up to 50 TOPS (trillions of operations per second) whilst using less power than traditional processors.

The NPU, also called Neural Processing Unit, is an additional silicon component built on the processor die (in simple terms). It has a parallelised design, meaning it can perform several AI resource-demanding algorithmic tasks simultaneously. The NPU tackles AI tasks, freeing up the CPU and GPU to do their usual tasks.

NPU Benefits at a Glance

Parallel Processing - Handle multiple AI tasks simultaneously
Energy Efficiency - Lower power consumption than CPU/GPU for AI tasks
Dedicated AI Processing - Frees up CPU/GPU for traditional computing
Faster AI Inference - Optimised for machine learning operations

An AI PC offloads AI-specific tasks, such as machine learning inference, image recognition, and natural language processing, to the NPU, ensuring that neural processing tasks are performed by special silicon arrangements, like Nvidia’s CUDA core architecture. However, there are times when AI tasks would draw from a PC’s CPU and GPU computing resources, depending on the applications being run.

NPUs made it possible for light PCs to crunch AI-algorithmic tasks, offering power, portability, and efficiency, all at once.

TOPS and AI Performance—What It Means

TOPS Quick Definition: Trillions of Operations Per Second - measures how many AI calculations a chip can perform per second.

TOPS Performance Tiers

Entry Level: 20-30 TOPS - Basic AI tasks, real-time translation
Mid-Range: 30-45 TOPS - Content creation, local LLMs
High-End: 45-50+ TOPS - Enterprise workflows, complex AI modelling

TOPS means trillions of operations per second. In simple terms, it measures the maximum number of 8-bit integers (INT8) a chip can execute. In other words, it’s a mathematical calculation of how efficiently a chip can execute AI inference.

It’s important to know that whilst TOPS is a vendor-calculated and rated performance measurement, it doesn’t entirely translate into real-life scenarios. There may be differences in theoretical performance and real-life performance under specific conditions.

Whilst NPUs are crucial to the performance of an AI PC, other factors, such as RAM, data transfer speed (storage), thermal throttling, and software demand, also affect just how efficiently or inefficiently an AI PC may work under different circumstances.

Real-World AI-Powered Laptop Benefits

Top 3 Benefits:

Privacy-focused local processing
No internet required for AI tasks
Faster response times than cloud-based AI

AI automates and optimises every day, from simple tasks to complex computations. They have real-world benefits to individual professionals, students, and businesses across New Zealand.

Processing Language Models

What it does: Run ChatGPT-like models offline
Models supported: LLaMA, Phi, GPT-OSS variants
Benefit: Complete privacy, no data leaves your device

HP AI laptops with Intel Core Ultra processors are capable of running powerful local language models like LLaMA and Phi. These language models can explain concepts, communicate, define terms, write, reword, and provide insights on topics, without the need to connect to the internet. Imagine accessing the power of OpenAI’s GPT without worrying about a privacy breach—particularly valuable for businesses handling sensitive information or those in areas with limited connectivity.

Image Generation

What it does: Create AI art and edit photos locally
Tools supported: Stable Diffusion, DALL-E alternatives
Processing time: 2-10 seconds per image (varies by model)

Image generation involves using generative AI to create AI art, edit pictures, and design emojis. AI art is quickly becoming mainstream, and as the technology improves, many end users want PCs that can quickly and efficiently perform these tasks with a few prompts.

Real-Time Captioning and Translation

Languages supported: 40+ languages
Accuracy: 95%+ for major languages
Use cases: Virtual meetings, content accessibility

Real-time translation and captioning save users time by automatically captioning video meetings in real-time. The technology also differentiates each speaker and translates language. That means virtual meetings can be held by people who speak different languages without barriers—perfect for New Zealand businesses working with international clients or multicultural teams.

Advanced Search With Natural Language

New AI features, such as OpenRecall, an open-source programme, periodically capture your screen and index your activity, allowing you to search for specific activities if you forget. For example, suppose you spent some time on Chrome searching through websites for the best pizza place in Auckland three weeks later; you can ask OpenRecall to find web pages you opened that are related to pizza, within a three-week window.

OpenRecall is local, meaning it does not connect to the internet, ensuring privacy protection. Since it’s open source, anyone can check its code, and you can encrypt your data whilst enjoying your capacity to recall past activities without a file name or time stamp.

Personalised AI Assistants

AI chatbots are quickly becoming assistants. Copilot, for example, helps you analyse notes, photos, and videos. From writing newsletters to emails, text messages, and organising your calendar, getting relationship advice—all with loose language prompts. It’s like speaking to a human being—an intelligent and responsive personal assistant.

System and Power Management

An HP AI PC has adopted advanced power management, enabling portable and powerful systems to handle resource-intensive tasks without placing undue pressure on battery usage and life. From hardware structure (fan, CPU, and GPU design), and workload spread over CPU, GPU, and NPU, these intelligent innovations make AI PCs powerful, sustainable, and environmentally friendly.

Webcam and Audio Enhancements

AI Camera Features:

Background blur/replacement
Auto-framing
Low-light enhancement
Eye contact correction

An HP AI PC also enhances your video and audio call experience, from boosting webcam images to focused framing, white balance adjustments, and audio enhancements.

Whilst applications like Zoom offer these features, an AI PC allows you to access the same features locally without going online. The NPU hardware handles its background processing without monopolising your CPU or GPU or draining your battery.

Who Should Consider Buying an AI PC?

Quick Decision Matrix

Professional Type	Minimum TOPS	Recommended Model
Content Creator	30-40	HP Spectre x360 16
Developer	40-50	HP ZBook Studio G10
Data Analyst	30-40	HP Elite x360 1040
Student	20-30	HP Pavilion x360 14
Business Professional	30-40	HP EliteBook 840 G10
Gaming & Creation	40-50	OMEN 16

Content Creators

Graphics designers, video editors, photographers, and animators can better optimise their workflows with AI PCs. For example, features like image enhancement, background remover, video editing, and rendering work much more seamlessly.

Tools like Adobe Illustrator and Lightroom, Animaker AI, and Canva have different AI features that align perfectly with AI PCs.