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Enhanced productivity, smoother gaming: How AI-powered laptops are being tailored for work to play
MSI's new personal computers combine advanced hardware with smart apps to deliver better performance and security while fostering creativity
With MSI’s AI laptops, personal computers have evolved into smart assistants that boost productivity, enhance gaming and unlock creative potential. PHOTO: MSI
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Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a buzzword – it is reshaping how we live and work, and now it is transforming one of our most familiar devices: the personal computer.
While the technology was previously limited to cloud-based platforms, AI has now made its way into one of the most essential tools we use almost every day.
“The growth of AI services and applications is particularly exciting because it's shifting from a purely cloud-based model to a ‘cloud-plus-edge’ approach. This means processing power is not solely concentrated in massive data centres. It is increasingly moving to the edge of the network: your laptop, in this case,” says Mr Derek Chen, vice-president of Global Business and Marketing of Taiwanese computer maker MSI.
With AI, personal computers like laptops have evolved from being useful tools for work and play into smart assistants capable of boosting productivity, enhancing gaming experiences and unlocking creativity.
Having an AI-powered edge
AI laptops are not your typical computers. Built to handle AI tasks efficiently, all of MSI’s AI laptops come with a neural processing unit (NPU), a specialised chip dedicated solely to managing AI processes.
While standard computers can run AI applications, they lack an NPU. This means that the computer’s central processing unit (CPU) must juggle both routine computing tasks and AI ones. This can overload the system and lead to slower performance.
On AI laptops, the addition of an NPU works very much like giving the computer a “second brain”. With the NPU dedicated to processing AI functions, the CPU is free to focus on everyday computing tasks.
Thanks to this “dual brain” setup, AI laptops can deliver complex AI functions quickly while giving users a faster and smoother computing experience at the same time.
With their NPU, AI laptops have a significant edge over standard computers – they are faster, more secure and deliver better performance. This new generation of personal computers boasts the capability to run complex AI functions directly on the device itself, instead of relying on cloud-based AI tools.
Called edge-based processing, this new technology is not only faster but also safer. It allows sensitive data to be processed and stored on the device, eliminating the need to send information over the internet.
MSI, which has been investing in AI research and development since 2018, is one of the first computing brands to embrace edge-based processing.
“MSI has spent years developing intelligent, AI-driven applications, creating software and features designed to meet the needs of diverse users. Our AI technology automatically adjusts to enhance the user experience across gaming, meetings, and online entertainment,” Mr Chen says.
As part of the computer maker’s long-term commitment to the development of AI, it has recently launched a line-up of eight AI-powered laptops designed to cater to a wide range of users, from gamers to creatives to business professionals.
AI-driven apps for work and play
Accompanying MSI’s roster of smart laptops is a suite of AI-driven apps designed to help users get the most out of these cutting-edge devices.
The MSI AI Engine, MSI AI Artist, Smart Guard and Smart Brightness apps are just some of the many tools that come with every MSI AI laptop:
The MSI AI Engine, MSI AI Artist, Smart Guard and Smart Brightness apps are just some of the many tools that come with every MSI AI laptop:
- The MSI AI Engine app can automatically enhance a laptop’s hardware settings to achieve the best performance across work, gaming, or entertainment. For example, when a user opens a meeting app, the MSI AI Engine immediately goes into Intelligent Meeting mode, which automatically mutes incoming notifications and quiets the computer’s fans to minimise noise and distractions.
- Creative professionals will find a handy assistant in the MSI AI Artist tool, which lets users generate images through text prompts directly on their computer. This edge-based technology means that users can create concept art and ideas quickly while ensuring that the newly generated images and ideas are stored securely on their devices.
- On the security front, the Smart Guard tool automatically locks your laptop when you step away, keeping your files safe. When you return, the AI app automatically takes you back to where you left off, so you can resume your work without interruption.
- For everyday use, Smart Brightness makes intelligent changes to the computer’s screen brightness settings based on ambient light levels, helping users to minimise eye strain.
Every AI app made by MSI is seamlessly integrated into the company’s smart laptops. As Mr Chen notes, “Our initial vision was simple: to enable users to optimise their laptop’s performance effortlessly, eliminating the need for complex settings.”
Choosing the right AI laptop
It is a common misconception that AI laptops, with their smart technology, are designed only for power users. As part of the company’s vision to make AI more accessible, MSI’s line-up of AI-powered laptops comes with varying features and configurations, so there is a model suited for every user profile.
Gamers, e-sports players and AI developers will like the Stealth A16. This gaming laptop is packed with computing power, featuring an AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor with an NPU that can perform up to 50 trillion operations per second (TOPs). Built for both power and speed, this laptop is ideal for those who want the best gaming experience.
For creative professionals, the Creator A16 is a blend of power and portability, giving users the freedom to create everything from illustrations to videos from virtually anywhere. This laptop comes with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card, as well as the NVIDIA Studio suite of AI-assisted creative tools, so users can work on graphic design, video editing and other creative projects with ease.
The Prestige A16 offers a powerful laptop designed with productivity in mind for business professionals. Sporting an ultra-thin, elegant aluminium chassis, this laptop has an AMD Ryzen AI 300 series processor with up to 50 NPU TOPs, so it can easily run AI apps such as MSI AI Engine. The Prestige A16 comes built with Wi-Fi 7, which boasts connection speeds up to 2.4 times that of the previous generation.
Students, home users and business professionals who need flexibility and portability will find the Summit 13 AI+ Evo an ideal choice. Featuring a flexible screen hinge, this laptop can readily transform into a tablet. When paired with the MSI Pen 2, it is the perfect device for taking notes, drawing diagrams and sketching ideas.
AI laptops are already making everyday tasks easier, boosting productivity and enhancing entertainment. As AI technology evolves, it opens up even more possibilities for innovation. MSI’s AI-powered laptops are built to harness this potential, with strong computing power and advanced AI features designed for both current and future capabilities.
