The rise of the AI PC is heralding a new era of computing, and India is poised to be a key market in this transformation. In this exclusive interview, we get into the perspectives of two of the leading companies at the forefront of this revolution: Vinay Sinha, Corporate Vice President, AMD India, and Ashish Sikka, Director and Category Head, Lenovo India. They share their insights on the definition of an AI PC, the evolving landscape in India, and how their companies are shaping the future of AI-driven computing.
Survey1. How do AMD and Lenovo define an AI PC, and what differentiates it from traditional systems for businesses and consumers?
Vinay Sinha – An AI PC is a computing device that integrates dedicated AI processing capabilities directly into the hardware, enabling intelligent, real-time computing without relying on cloud-based processing. At the core of this transformation is AMD’s Ryzen AI engine, which brings a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) to handle AI workloads efficiently. Unlike traditional PCs, which depend primarily on the CPU and GPU for all tasks, an AI PC leverages this specialized AI engine to enhance system responsiveness, optimize performance, and deliver adaptive experiences. This enables features like real-time language translation, intelligent security enhancements, and energy-efficient workload management, all processed locally for greater speed and privacy. AMD’s AI-driven architecture ensures that AI PCs can seamlessly adapt to user needs, improving both productivity and power efficiency while redefining the way businesses and consumers interact with their devices.
Ashish Sikka – Lenovo defines an AI PC as a computer with AI integrated at every level, in both hardware and software. Lenovo incorporates CPUs, GPUs, and NPUs (neural processing units) in their AI PCs. These units contain AI acceleration features that enable them to process AI tasks without a cloud connection. More specifically, key aspects of Lenovo’s AI PC definition include:
- Hardware and Software Integration AI is integrated at every level of the system.
- Processing Power Strong CPU and GPU to increase computing capability.
- AI acceleration AI-enabled PCs use Intel chipsets with CPUs, GPUs, and NPUs to handle AI-based tasks.
- Neural Processing Unit (NPU) A specialized chip designed for AI tasks.
- User Experience AI is not just about hardware or software but more about the user experience.
- On-Device AI Ability to process AI tasks without a cloud connection.
- AI Features Natural interactions, personalized language models, and advanced computing architectures.
Lenovo’s AI PCs aim to streamline and enhance everyday tasks, making them simpler, quicker, and more enjoyable.
2. The AI PC market in India is still in its early stages. How do you see this space evolving over the next 3–5 years, and what roles do Lenovo and AMD aim to play?
Vinay Sinha – Over the next 3–5 years, the AI PC market in India will expand rapidly as industries like education, healthcare, and enterprise integrate AI-powered applications as tools to accelerate their business. AMD is committed to driving this transformation by delivering energy-efficient processors designed for AI workloads and working closely with ISVs to maximize AI PC capabilities. As our CEO, Dr. Lisa Su, noted, “Tech trends evolve over years, not months, and we’ll look back and realize how transformative AI PCs have become.”
Ashish Sikka – The AI PC market in India is expected to grow, driven by increased adoption by enterprises, startups, and IT organizations. We do believe in the next few years almost 80% of PCs shipped will have some form of AI integrated.
Factors Driving Growth
- Enterprise Adoption: Increased use by enterprise users, startups, and IT organizations will drive growth.
- Technological Advancements: AI PCs can handle complex computations due to high-processing NPUs. The integration of AI is at a nascent stage.
- Market Demand: Strong demand is anticipated for AI PCs in India, driven by the need for advanced computing capabilities and the increasing adoption of AI technologies across industries.
- Content Creation and Personalization: AI PCs have strong capabilities for content discovery, aggregation, and creation. They can also generate personalized content in the native language, making devices more user-friendly.
- Government Initiatives: Government-led investments in AI research and development will boost digital transformation and fuel the AI PC market growth in the Asia Pacific region
Lenovo is deeply invested in driving this transformation. By combining AMD’s advanced processors with Lenovo’s focus on user-centric design, we’re creating devices that meet India’s unique needs. Additionally, through our local manufacturing efforts, we’re enhancing accessibility and supporting the Make in India initiative. In the years ahead, we aim to empower professionals and enterprises with smarter, AI-enabled tools tailored for India’s dynamic workforce.
3. How does the ThinkPad T14s align with this strategy?
Ashish Sikka – The ThinkPad T14s is the perfect example of how Lenovo and AMD are driving the AI PC revolution. With AMD Ryzen AI processors, the device offers intelligent features like real-time collaboration, adaptive performance tuning, and AI-powered threat detection. It is designed to enhance productivity while maintaining robust security. Additionally, the ThinkPad T14s is a step toward sustainable computing with its use of recycled materials and energy-efficient design, aligning with Lenovo’s vision for smarter, greener technology.
4. How does the demand for AI PCs in India differ from global trends? Are there specific use cases or sectors driving adoption in the Indian market?
Vinay Sinha – AI PC adoption in India is growing just like in other markets, with sectors like education using AI for personalized learning and businesses using it for predictive analytics and better efficiency. While AI PCs serve similar purposes everywhere, India’s large and diverse user base creates a strong need for multilingual support and affordable solutions. People want AI-powered systems that improve productivity while meeting local needs, making AI PCs an important part of India’s digital growth.
Ashish Sikka – India’s adoption of AI PCs is being led by sectors like education, enterprise, and healthcare. For instance, AI tools are enhancing virtual classrooms and streamlining business operations. Lenovo’s ThinkPad T14s, with its region-specific applications and advanced AI features, is designed to cater to these unique needs, making smarter computing accessible to a broader audience.
One of the key differentiators in the Indian market is the need for natural interaction. Many users in India prefer voice commands over typing, and AI PCs are helping bridge this gap. Features such as speech-based controls, live captioning, and real-time translation make AI PCs more inclusive and accessible. By enabling users to interact with their devices more intuitively, AI PCs are democratizing technology and making advanced computing tools available to a much wider audience.
5. How does Lenovo optimize hardware to enhance the user experience with AI tools like Microsoft Copilot+?
Ashish Sikka – Lenovo integrates AMD Ryzen AI processors to enhance the capabilities of tools like Microsoft Copilot+. Features like adaptive performance tuning, AI-powered noise suppression, and real-time transcription improve productivity and collaboration. Lenovo’s focus on localized AI functionalities ensures seamless performance while protecting user privacy. Tools like Lenovo Commercial Vantage and ThinkShield further simplify workflows, making AI tools intuitive and user-friendly.
A key innovation is Lenovo AI Now, an AI-powered assistant that enhances user interactions by making device management more seamless. It enables:
- Natural interaction through voice-based commands.
- Predictive system management, allowing users to troubleshoot and optimize device settings effortlessly.
- AI-powered note-taking and document search, making information retrieval quicker and more efficient.
Security is also a priority in AI PCs, and Lenovo has built a multi-layered security approach into the ThinkPad T14s. This includes the Microsoft Pluton security chip, Lenovo ThinkShield technologies, and AI-powered threat detection. Predictive security features, such as real-time anomaly detection and proactive threat identification, allow enterprises to mitigate risks before they become breaches. Additionally, features like AI-enhanced credential protection and encrypted local processing ensure that sensitive business data remains secure even in offline environments.
6. Could you elaborate on the Ryzen AI engine integrated into the ThinkPad T14s? What specific capabilities does it unlock for end users?
Vinay Sinha – The integration of the Ryzen AI engine into the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 significantly enhances user experience, bringing up to 50 TOPS of AI processing power to deliver advanced multitasking, predictive analytics, and robust threat detection. It, combined with the CPU and GPU enable real-time language translations, adaptive noise suppression, and AI-accelerated workflows, ensuring professionals can work more efficiently with seamless communication and enhanced productivity. The AI engine intelligently optimizes system performance by analyzing user behaviour, predicting frequently used applications, and streamlining workflows. It also strengthens security through real-time monitoring for unusual activity, providing proactive threat detection. Moreover, by accelerating tasks such as image recognition and data analysis, users experience faster processing without compromising system responsiveness. Designed with energy efficiency in mind, the Ryzen AI engine ensures that these capabilities do not come at the cost of battery life. By integrating this advanced AI engine into the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6, AMD and Lenovo are redefining modern computing, delivering intelligent performance that adapts dynamically to user needs.
7. How does the AMD Pro platform address enterprise needs, particularly in the AI-enabled PC segment?
Vinay Sinha – The AMD PRO Platform addresses enterprise needs in the AI-enabled PC segment by delivering a comprehensive suite of solutions designed for performance, security, and manageability. Its advanced manageability tools enable remote monitoring and deployment, crucial for AI-driven workloads across large-scale enterprise environments. The platform supports AI capabilities that enhance operational efficiency, from intelligent workload distribution to AI-accelerated applications. On the security front, it incorporates multiple layers of protection, including AMD Platform Secure Boot to safeguard against low-level threats, and AMD Shadow Stack to defend against control-flow attacks. By integrating seamlessly with Lenovo’s ThinkShield technologies, the AMD PRO Platform empowers businesses to harness AI while maintaining a robust, secure, and scalable IT infrastructure, ultimately driving innovation and productivity.
8. Were there any customizations made to AMD processors or AI capabilities specifically for Lenovo’s ThinkPad series?
Vinay Sinha – AMD collaborated closely with Lenovo to optimize Ryzen AI processors for the ThinkPad , focusing on optimizing power efficiency and ensuring seamless integration with Lenovo’s ThinkShield security features. This partnership resulted in AI-driven functionalities such as real-time collaboration tools and adaptive performance tuning, enhancing the ThinkPad’s appeal to professionals across various industries.
9. What are the standout use cases for AI PCs like the ThinkPad T14s in business and consumer environments?
Ashish Sikka – In business environments, AI PCs like the ThinkPad T14s enhance productivity with tools like real-time transcription, secure collaboration, and predictive analytics. For consumers, features like real-time language translation, adaptive performance, and AI-powered creative workflows make everyday computing more intuitive and efficient.
10. Market availability for the latest products is often a little delayed in the case of large OEMs such as Lenovo. What is Lenovo doing to bring the latest tech to India in the same time frame as Tier-1 markets?
India is a key strategic market for us. We are committed to bringing the latest and best of tech to Indian consumers at all points in time. To enable this we continue to work with relevant teams in and outside Lenovo to help shorten the timeline for some India-specific certifications and requirements.
Lenovo’s manufacturing strategy in India focuses on significant expansion and localization to meet growing domestic demand while aligning with the government’s “Make in India” initiative. Lenovo has expanded its in-house PC manufacturing facility in Puducherry and the facility produces a comprehensive range of consumer and commercial products, including desktops, notebooks, and workstations and will soon manufacture AI servers in India.
Lenovo has been recognized for its supply chain excellence, ranking #1 in the Gartner Asia/Pacific Supply Chain Top 10 and #10 globally in the Gartner Supply Chain Top 25 for 2024.
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Mithun Mohandas
Mithun Mohandas is an Indian technology journalist with 14 years of experience covering consumer technology. He is currently employed at Digit in the capacity of a Managing Editor. Mithun has a background in Computer Engineering and was an active member of the IEEE during his college days. He has a penchant for digging deep into unravelling what makes a device tick. If there's a transistor in it, Mithun's probably going to rip it apart till he finds it. At Digit, he covers processors, graphics cards, storage media, displays and networking devices aside from anything developer related. As an avid PC gamer, he prefers RTS and FPS titles, and can be quite competitive in a race to the finish line. He only gets consoles for the exclusives. He can be seen playing Valorant, World of Tanks, HITMAN and the occasional Age of Empires or being the voice behind hundreds of Digit videos. View Full Profile
