AI Revolution Hits Hard: ABI Research Predicts 60% of PCs Will Run on AI-Enabled Systems by 2025

As 2025 begins, experts at global technology intelligence firm ABI Research are predicting a seismic shift in the world of personal computing. According to their new whitepaper, "101 Technology Trends That Will—and Won’t—Shape 2025", Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled Personal Computers (PCs) will become the new normal, assuming approximately 60% of total PC shipments by the end of the year.

The shift towards AI PCs is expected to be driven by several key factors, including the growing availability of Neural Processing Units (NPUs) across different price tiers, mainstream adoption of Large Language Models (LLMs) for everyday computing tasks, and the strategic launch of Microsoft's Windows 12 in the second half of 2025.

Microsoft's new Operating System is optimized for AI workloads and features deeper integration with Copilot, the company's AI-powered assistant. According to ABI Research forecasts, this will trigger a significant enterprise replacement cycle as companies look to upgrade their existing hardware.

However, not all technology predictions are rosy for certain segments. ARM-based PCs are expected to remain a minority segment in 2025, accounting for only around 13% of total PC shipments. This is despite Arm's efforts to expand its presence in the market, which have been hindered by ongoing licensing disputes with Qualcomm.

In a cautionary note, ABI Research warns that 2024 has been marked by challenges from global conflicts and inflationary pressures, which have led to market inertia and short-term technology investments. According to Stuart Carlaw, Chief Research Officer at ABI Research, "this is a particularly sensitive time, suggesting tech implementers and end users are on the brink of a massive technology shift."