AI doesn't drive demand for consumer laptops. If anything I'd go out of my way to have something without this AI rubbish. Many also bought laptops during the pandemic and are unlikely to already need a replacement.
The statistics is meaningless without specifying if AI-capable computers are counted if
- they have dGPUs but do not have NPUs,
- their users do not use AI.
Comical at best.
For those that are looking for a "driving force" in the PC industry I submit that it is:
Microsoft
After all, it is MS (or Apple to some extent) who will "abandon" their earlier OS versions by no longer releasing security updates AND place hardware requirements on their newer OS versions that render perfectly functional hardware OBSOLETE thereby forcing uninformed users/owners to UPGRADE.
My guess is that WIN12 will require a NPU!!!
Remember, you read it here 1st. :)