The surge of artificial intelligence into everyday technology is an undeniable force, with AI-capable devices rapidly becoming household staples. At the forefront of this innovation is Apple, establishing itself as a dominant player in the AI sector for personal computers and devices.
A recent analysis by Canalys reveals that Apple claimed a massive share of the AI-capable PC market, shipping over half of such devices worldwide in 2024. These AI-capable PCs are defined by their specialized hardware, such as neural processing units designed for AI-driven tasks. In percentage terms, 17% of all PCs shipped in 2024 were AI-capable, and Apple was responsible for an impressive 54% of those shipments.
This places Apple significantly ahead of its competitors. Lenovo and HP, the nearest contenders, secured only 12% of the AI-capable PC market each, spotlighting Apple’s substantial lead.
Apple’s success can largely be attributed to the cutting-edge M4 processor and its seamless integration of Apple Intelligence into the latest laptops, like the M4 Mac Mini. The company has been incorporating neural processors since the release of the A11 Bionic SoC, featured in the iPhone 8 range and iPhone X in 2017. These processors have steadily evolved, propelling AI technology into the forefront for everyday consumers.
In contrast, Windows laptops have lagged behind Apple, particularly with Microsoft’s Copilot PCs not performing as well as anticipated. The Copilot feature faced controversy, especially due to the Recall feature that could automatically snapshot a PC’s status, raising privacy concerns.
Despite these challenges, the AI PC market is on an upward trajectory. Between 2023 and 2024, the segment saw an 18% increase in growth. As AI becomes increasingly embedded into personal devices and necessary hardware becomes more affordable, the expansion of AI-capable PCs is expected to continue, reshaping the landscape of personal computing.
