With the new wave of artificial intelligence (AI), enterprises are leveraging the technology to break traditional innovation cycles, tear down legacy silos, and power efficiency gains. In particular, many are looking to AI to improve employee productivity, according to findings in the Foundry 2025 AI Priorities Study, with businesses even prioritizing this ahead of improving customer support or service, enabling innovation, or driving product development. In fact, the number of organizations that named this as a key business objective has steadily increased from 48% in 2023 to 51% in 2025.
But even though 38% of respondents in the same survey have set their sights on AI-enabled PCs, only 26% of companies are piloting the deployment of these endpoints. This highlights how outdated technology and legacy IT are still largely in use within businesses. Not only can underperforming hardware pose an enduring cybersecurity risk to organizations, it can also erode employee morale and productivity—like the tedium of waiting for slow-moving or unresponsive software. At the same time, such outdated systems can hinder collaborative efforts, slowing down processes and impacting intended collaborative outcomes.
Innovating at scale with AI-powered devices
How will businesses leverage AI to enhance employee productivity? The same study also revealed that AI-enabled PCs and smart virtual assistants are among the most sought-after AI-enabled technologies, with 38% of respondents actively researching their implementation. At the same time, 26% are piloting the use of the AI-enabled PCs. These have shed light on the changing demands for laptops, with companies now looking to deploy smarter, AI-powered devices to drive lasting business growth.
How AI is redefining the future of work
What’s driving AI investments in 2025?
Improving employee productivity
68%
Driving customer support or services
55%
Enabling innovation/
new product development
54%
To maximize their AI investments and business value, IT leaders must have the right infrastructure and strategy that can empower employees to perform at their best. This means investing in computing capabilities and robust storage to facilitate complex tasks, such as training and inference for generative AI (GenAI).
That’s why AI laptops are designed to manage the heavy workloads required of these tasks, in addition to the performance, privacy, and energy efficiency needed to power the modern workplace.
Given the prevalence of remote work since 2018, the foundation for AI laptops has already been laid years ago. This is alongside advances in computing hardware and enterprise-grade data platforms in recent years. And in light of AI-enabled digital transformation, the market for AI laptops is poised for greater expansion, with these devices offering the capabilities needed to drive increased productivity and innovation.
AI devices: the building blocks to business growth
IDC has predicted that AI investments will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 35.3% from 2023 to 2027 in hardware, software, and platform services.
Today, AI-ready devices can support seamless collaboration and productivity demanded by today’s hybrid workforce: by automating routine tasks, enhancing real-time communication, and personalizing user experiences. These endpoints will underpin the architecture of modern workplaces, with AI laptops equipped with cutting edge features that employees need to do their best work, such as real-time transcription, language translation and smart meeting tools.
It’s clear that AI and the smart devices they power will herald a new era of innovation for businesses, which are starting to tackle specific use cases of AI devices at scale. For instance, 59% of companies in the 2025 AI Priorities Study were confident that AI-infused products will create better outcomes.
But a clear trend is emerging amidst the findings, with businesses focused on driving employee productivity via AI. When it comes to AI use cases, 55% cited employee productivity, with this being a close second behind data analytics at 59%. At the same time, the top driver of AI investment in 2025 is to improve employee productivity.
One defining feature of an AI-powered laptop is a processor architecture that integrates the neural processing unit (NPU), as well as a central processing unit (CPU) and graphics processing unit (GPU). Such a device is capable of carrying out AI computing and workloads with ease as the NPU is designed specifically for AI tasks.
This makes such laptops suitable for building AI models, especially for training and inferencing tasks. By using parallel computing units, NPUs can enhance performance and efficiency, with resources managed dynamically to avoid bottlenecks. At the same time, they can employ distributed storage to reduce latency and improve bandwidth.
NPUs, too, are essential for AI-powered security, since they are integrated into terminal processors. This is because data processing and storage can take place directly on the device, minimizing the use of cloud services that may introduce external threats. At the same time, multi-layered defenses, from hardware to operating systems, are present in AI laptops.
The AI laptop’s distinct advantage
An example of a device bolstered by AI-powered security is HP PCs, powered by AMD Ryzen™ AI Processors. These endpoints are equipped with HP Wolf Security, which offers advanced AI protection against cyber threats. Moreover, the combination of AI-driven quantum hack protection and multi-layered defenses works to ensure data security amidst current and emerging threats.
Then there are in-built AI-powered assistants like Microsoft Copilot, helping users elevate their everyday tasks and enhance productivity. In particular, Copilot offers seamless translation, quick information retrieval, and real-time image generation.
What are NPUs?
NPUs are a specialized type of processor that's optimized for AI and machine learning tasks. They work with CPUs and GPUs to accelerate AI tasks, thus creating a more responsive and intelligent computing experience.
Discover what makes the HP PC, powered by AMD Ryzen AI Processor, an AI-driven powerhouse designed for modern businesses.
See Beneath the Hood of an AI-powered PC
Find out more about how AI-powered laptops are playing a key role enhancing productivity and innovation in today’s business landscape.
Read the paper
Charting the Rise of AI Laptops
Download the infographic
Rapid advances in AI will shape the future of the workplace: one that leverages AI-enabled devices to drive unprecedented efficiencies and innovation while meeting the needs of an evolving workforce.
Where AI will take the new world of work
See how Rachel Lim, co-founder of Love, Bonito, can stay productive no matter where she works with the HP AI-powered laptop.
Working on the go
Sponsored Content
In association with
HP and AMD enable secure, high-performance computing for hybrid work environments. Powered by AMD Ryzen™ PRO processors, HP devices offer intelligent performance, reliable connectivity, and multi-layered security. Learn more about HP and AMD solutions for modern workforces: https://www.hp.com/sg-en/amd.html
Take a look at the five ways that HP’s AI-powered PCs are helping businesses be more future ready.
Read now
Meet the demands of an evolving workplace
From automation to GenAI, technology-driven shifts are now a constant in the business landscape. However, the growing interest in AI, propelled by the myriad benefits it promises, means that the technology will become an indispensable part of the workplace. The AI-ready devices by HP are designed to accelerate performance and power creativity, allowing teams to work smarter and more efficiently in the future of work.
With hybrid work becoming the norm, employees can work where they need without sacrificing performance, and with AI devices enabling them to work smarter and faster, such as by analyzing files and images to elevate presentations.
Improved productivity:
•
Businesses can better safeguard confidential data with AI-powered endpoints, with multi-layered security that can monitor and defend against cyber threats from all corners, no matter where work happens.
Enhanced cybersecurity:
•
These can ensure more productive meetings with seamless connectivity, AI noise reduction, clear visuals, and intelligent meeting recordings, so teamwork can take place anywhere.
Better collaboration:
•
By adapting its output to every employee’s preferences, AMD Ryzen AI Processors learns from user interactions to personalize their experience, tailoring their workflows so users can be more creative and productive.
Greater focus on work:
•
AI assistants like Copilot can automate tasks such as scheduling meetings and generating reports while streamlining workflows and providing real-time insights for improved decision-making, letting employees focus on more strategic work.
Automated routines:
•
Here are some ways that AI devices will transform the workplace for businesses across industries: