At MWC 2025, Lenovo made waves with the introduction of new AI-driven hardware, sparking curiosity with their proof-of-concept devices that hint at future innovations. Among these intriguing unveilings was a solar-powered Yoga PC, a charging unit, and an AI Display POC, equipped with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) tailored for local AI tasks. Lenovo is leveraging this monitor as part of its commitment to delivering "smarter technology for all," especially benefitting computers that might lack their own NPU. The concept suggests that non-AI PCs could potentially utilize large language models (LLMs) and AI assistants through this technology.
One standout feature of the AI Display is its smart capability to adjust—rotating, elevating, and tilting itself for optimal viewing. As someone who frequently finds themselves glued to a screen, I can’t help but appreciate the potential ergonomic benefits. It’s a promising idea, though only time will tell how effectively it performs in real-world scenarios.
Now, for those who already own a quality monitor but lack AI capabilities, Lenovo’s AI Stick POC presents a discreet solution. This compact device offers an NPU with 32 TOPS of power, connecting via Thunderbolt to enhance any PC’s AI abilities. While it’s adept at running Lenovo AI Now, LLMs, and AI-enhanced graphics, its 32 TOPS might fall short for features like Windows 11’s Copilot+, which requires at least 40 TOPS. Remember, these specs could evolve if the device goes mainstream.
The AI Stick resembles an external M.2 SSD enclosure, compact enough to carry easily. As with many prototype concepts, Lenovo hasn’t revealed any release dates or pricing yet.
Lenovo is clearly pushing boundaries with its AI-enabled hardware, mirroring my earlier encounter with the Lenovo ThinkCentre neo Ultra, which featured a Kinara Ara-2 NPU boasting 40 TOPS. Unfortunately, similar to others at the time, the NPU’s functionality awaited a software update. It’s still uncertain how many TOPS the AI Display POC includes, but presumably, it packs enough power to perform its self-adjusting maneuvers and support LLMs.
In comparison, a discrete GPU can outshine these NPU capabilities, as shown by NVIDIA’s RTX 40-series cards that deliver over 1,300 TOPS. However, Lenovo aims for a different niche; the AI Stick is more about adding convenience by boosting AI performance, alleviating CPU and GPU loads while ensuring data stays on the local machine. Though appealing, its current iteration might not attract the average user unless more impactful AI tools become available.
This brings us to Lenovo’s AI Now suite, designed for the AI Stick, which I came across while evaluating the ThinkCentre neo Ultra. This custom AI assistant merges large, hybrid models with your personal knowledge and natural understanding. AI Now is divided into two key areas:
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Knowledge Assistant: Facilitates secure information access, query handling, content summarization, and text generation derived from personal knowledge—all processed locally to maintain privacy.
- PC Assistant: Simplifies PC setups with smart features, turning complex configurations into manageable tasks, while also streamlining Lenovo service interactions.
Lenovo promises additional features for AI Now soon, though availability might differ by region. Given that the AI Stick’s limited power doesn’t support Copilot+, Lenovo’s AI Now suite needs to evolve rapidly to enhance its appeal.
