Glossary What is AI-capable or AI-ready?
By null / 1 Jan 2023 / Topics: Generative AI Devices IT modernization
AI-capable and AI-ready are general terms used to describe devices that perform AI workloads. AI-capable refers to traditional devices that have AI accelerators on the CPU and GPU, allowing them to perform simple AI tasks or workloads at a low power consumption rate. These device types have been on the market for decades. Many modern smart phone models are AI-capable devices, as they can use facial recognition but cannot handle complex AI workloads.
AI-ready devices, on the other hand, incorporate a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) and can produce up to 30 Tera Operations Per Second (TOPS). This makes them a newer, more powerful choice for complex AI-related tasks. An example of an AI-ready device is the Jetson AGX Xavier manufactured by NVIDIA. The Jetson AGX Xavier incorporates an NPU and can also produce up to 32 TOPS. It is designed for complex, autonomous machines and edge computing applications.
It is not clear where the terms originate from, but as AI and specialized hardware were developed to support it, these terms have been used in the tech industry for several years. The emergence of these terms reflects the growing importance and adoption of AI across various industries. In fact, studies have estimated that 60% of PCs shipped by 2027 will be AI-capable.1
As organizations need fast and efficient processing to stay competitive, modern hardware must support the demands of AI-related workloads. Traditional processors may not be able to handle the complex computations required for AI, leading to:
- Slower processing times
- Higher power consumption
- Reduced efficiency
By upgrading to AI-capable or AI-ready devices, businesses can circumvent these challenges and increase productivity and efficiency. For organizations that want to get ahead and stay ahead, Insight’s team of experts can provide guidance on selecting the right hardware for your AI needs. We can also help businesses optimize the use of AI-capable or AI-ready devices to achieve maximum performance and minimize costs.
1 IDC. (2024, Feb. 7). IDC Forecasts Artificial Intelligence PCs to Account for Nearly 60% of All PC Shipments by 2027.
