As businesses in the EMEA and GCC regions face increasing pressures to improve productivity, security, and cost-effectiveness, AI-driven PCs are emerging as an essential tool. Taha Khalifa, General Manager for Intel Middle East and Africa, discusses how these devices are changing the landscape of enterprise computing by embedding AI capabilities directly at the user endpoint.
By handling tasks locally, AI PCs provide enterprises with quicker insights, enhanced control over confidential information, and decreased dependency on cloud services—an important edge for industries such as government, finance, and energy.
The AI PC Global Report from Intel reveals significant advantages: businesses using AI-enabled PCs invest 65% less time on managing devices, require 90% fewer on-site IT visits, and achieve a 213% higher return on investment over three years.
With the end of Windows 10 support on the horizon, companies have a prime opportunity to refresh their technology with AI PCs that deliver improved productivity alongside top-notch security features. Intel’s vPro platform offers layered, hardware-based protection against threats, while extensive AI training programs and partnerships with over 200 software vendors help employees fully utilize AI technologies.
In this discussion, Khalifa emphasizes that AI PCs represent more than just an upgrade; they are vital for enhancing operational efficiency, fostering innovation, and ensuring secure business activities in today’s AI-centric environment.
Intel has indicated that AI PCs are contributing to improved productivity, streamlining IT operations, and helping companies reduce cloud expenses while keeping data on-premises. From your perspective, how are AI PCs redefining enterprise computing in EMEA and GCC, and why is it crucial for organizations to embrace this now
AI PCs are revolutionizing enterprise operations by incorporating artificial intelligence at the user level, which leads to better ROI. In EMEA and the GCC regions, where it is vital to maintain data control and operational efficacy, the ability to process AI tasks locally empowers companies to enhance productivity, manage costs effectively, and secure sensitive data.
This capability is especially vital for industries like government and finance, where compliance and data security are of utmost importance.
According to Intel’s AI PC Global Report, studies conducted across EMEA and the GCC show organizations utilizing AI-enabled PCs spend 65% less time managing devices, need 90% fewer on-site IT support visits, and realize a 213% greater ROI within three years.
By facilitating real-time AI processing and decreasing dependence on cloud resources, organizations can achieve substantial performance improvements and cost savings, making the adoption of AI PCs essential in today’s fast-paced, competitive environment.
With the discontinuation of Windows 10 support, numerous IT leaders view AI PCs as a timely upgrade to enhance both security and efficiency. How is Intel capitalizing on this shift to present AI PCs as essential for contemporary business fleets
As support for Windows 10 nears its end, businesses now have an opportunity to refresh their PC lineups. We view this transition as a critical moment to shift towards AI PCs as a strategic necessity.
Intel’s latest Core Ultra processors integrate CPU, GPU, and NPU technologies, offering advanced AI functionalities, improved performance, and heightened energy efficiency. Paired with the Intel vPro platform, these features allow companies to secure their infrastructures while future-proofing their operations with enhanced security measures.
Research indicates that although many businesses plan to adopt AI PCs, a significant number of employees are not fully aware of the advantages. What initiatives is Intel undertaking, both regionally and globally, to fill this knowledge void and ensure organizations maximize the benefits of AI on PCs
We believe it is essential to increase awareness for successful AI PC adoption. Comprehensive training is vital for leveraging the benefits of AI PCs; recent global surveys indicate that 95% of respondents agree employees require training for effective use of these devices.
Consistent training is crucial to address the skills gap, as many companies currently provide only occasional training opportunities. Intel is partnering with several local organizations to expand training programs tailored to both youth and the workforce, thereby addressing this knowledge gap. Furthermore, Intel works closely with a growing network of independent software vendors (ISVs) to enhance applications for use on AI PCs, ensuring that enterprises are ready for future demands.
We have optimized over 400 AI application features through collaborations with more than 200 ISVs. Additionally, Intel has introduced the AI PC acceleration program, uniting a strong ecosystem of software developers to deliver hundreds of optimized AI-enabled applications ready for instant deployment. This ensures that when organizations transition to AI PCs, employees reap substantial benefits in their daily tasks.
According to the Intel AI PC Global Report, 90% of business and IT decision-makers believe AI PCs will enhance productivity, 92% associate AI PCs with innovation that fosters new products, services, and revenue streams, and 90% consider AI PCs essential for gaining customer insights.
Intel’s recent product offerings include processors with built-in NPUs and GPUs, designed to optimize AI capabilities. Looking ahead to future desktop and enterprise solutions, how do these innovations align with Intel’s strategy to empower enterprise AI workflows
Our approach is straightforward: we enable businesses to deploy AI workloads where they will have the most significant impact, whether on CPU, GPU, or NPU. The Intel Core Ultra processor family and next-generation platforms are designed to optimize this balance, accommodating everything from lightweight AI assistants to substantial enterprise processes.
This architecture is engineered for peak performance, enhanced energy efficiency, and seamless scalability, allowing organizations to implement AI solutions without compromise.
Looking toward the future, our roadmap will further expand these capabilities into desktop and enterprise environments, addressing the increasing need for scalable AI workflows across various sectors. Our method aims to provide opportunities for growth in an ever-changing AI-driven landscape.
AI PCs handle more sensitive data processing locally, which introduces its own risks, from data tampering to emerging cyber threats. How is Intel aiding enterprises in balancing the performance advantages of edge AI with stronger cybersecurity measures
The Intel vPro platform provides comprehensive security, as safety remains the primary motivator for hardware upgrades. Together, we enable clients to benefit from extensive protection against threats and identity risks with multi-layer, hardware-based security aimed at evolving cyber challenges.
Features such as hardware-based threat detection, memory encryption, and AI-driven security solutions significantly reduce complex cyber risks.
Moreover, processing sensitive information locally reduces vulnerabilities related to transferring data across networks or to the cloud. This comprehensive approach, which encompasses hardware, firmware, and software, ensures that enterprises can adopt AI PCs while meeting high standards of trust and security.
Intel anticipates a substantial portion of the PC market will be AI-enabled within the next few years. In your opinion, what is the current status of AI PC adoption in EMEA and the GCC, and what must occur for this vision to become a reality
We predict that by 2028, 80% of PC sales will involve AI PCs. The adoption of AI PCs in EMEA and the GCC is steadily increasing as both the technology and its applications gain traction among consumers and businesses. Organizations are actively considering AI PCs, particularly in sectors such as government, telecommunications, and energy, where innovation and regulatory compliance are essential.
As mentioned previously, raising awareness and expanding AI training initiatives in conjunction with continued availability of AI applications and features through our ISV programs will be critical to achieving this vision. It is also vital to align with regional data protection and security regulations.
We are dedicated to working alongside governments, businesses, and software developers to promote faster adoption. We are confident that AI PCs will soon become the norm for enterprise computing systems across the region.