What Display Daily thinks: Yes, an upgrade cycle for Windows tends to lift the PC market. One is well overdue. On the other hand, the notion that there is such a thing as an AI-enabled PC is a bit of stretch but certainly, computer manufacturers can make a case for upgrading hardware based on AI processing requirements. How much of that is done locally versus in the cloud for the vast majority of users is another matter.
Does the emphasis on Windows upgrades and AI enhancements load up purchasing decisions to the detriment of IT display sales? Could be because there isn’t much in the way of increasing display sizes. Apple should have helped the cause because it finally realized that the MacBook Air needs a bigger screen than the original 11-inch one. Function won over pedantic design.
But, frankly, all PCs, laptops, and tablets need more display area. There’s just too much going on in a typical user’s sessions on any device. Will an upgrade cycle get that message across in 2024? Look for more AI, and less of anything else. That’s a mixed bag for the display industry.
Generative AI’s Rapid Evolution
There’s an interesting article by two lawyers from Alix Partners in Lexology. It provides a comprehensive overview of the advancements in generative AI, particularly focusing on its implications for businesses.
- Multi-modal Models: The shift from large language models (LLMs) to foundational models capable of understanding and generating content across text, images, video, and audio represents a major leap. While LLMs like ChatGPT continue to play a vital role, especially in applications where speed and lower environmental impact are crucial, the emergence of more complex foundational models has expanded the capabilities of generative AI significantly.
- Diversity of Models: The article highlights the emergence of various new AI models from different companies, each targeting specific use cases. This diversification reflects a growing trend where generative AI is not just about a single tool like ChatGPT but encompasses a range of models suitable for different tasks, from enterprise applications to academic research.
- Integration with Company Data: The development of vector embeddings as a form of AI memory that can map and retrieve vast arrays of data is particularly notable. This advancement has made it possible for businesses to utilize semantic search in practical applications, like searching through large datasets or manuals, enhancing the utility of generative AI in a business context.
- Complex Task Completion: The emergence of AI workflow organizers, such as LangChain, Microsoft’s Semantic Kernel, and AWS Bedrock, has enabled more complex tasks to be performed. These organizers can plan and execute a series of steps using various plug-ins, demonstrating the increasing sophistication of AI applications.
- Business Implications: The article elaborates on how these advancements have broadened the scope of AI applications in business. From customer service and operations to sales and marketing, AI is now capable of handling a wider range of tasks more efficiently and effectively.
- Future Outlook (Third Act): Looking forward, the article speculates on the future trajectory of business technology with AI at its core. It suggests that generative AI will become integral to company operations, not just as a tool but as a key component driving and refining business processes.
The article paints a picture of rapid and significant progress in the field of generative AI. It highlights the shift from basic text-based interactions to complex, multimodal, and highly integrated systems capable of performing a wide range of tasks. For businesses, this evolution offers new opportunities for efficiency, innovation, and competitive advantage. The future, as envisioned in the article, sees AI becoming a central element in the operational models of businesses, driving both strategy and execution.
We also have, at the same time, market studies, like the one today from Canalys, that tout the role of AI and Windows upgrades in a projected return to growth for the PC market in 2024. You can connect the dots here because, while Windows upgrades are a thing and they do spur buying cycles, the rapid pace of change in the way AI platforms are evolving is more likely to spur further investment by businesses. Most of the attempts being made by the large platforms is to integrate AI assistance as a sort of middleware application that connects disparate corporate networks and applications more seamlessly than any person or set of applications could. It makes total sense. What that does to buying patterns and how it impacts the display industry remains unclear. It does, however, push the focus and emphasis of buyers onto certain feature sets, mostly in the realms of hardware to drive AI computations or assist in implementing AI as a productivity boost in business workflows. That’s the elevator pitch; how it ends up working in practice is going to be little fuzzier.
