AI PCs: Is Search the Secret Weapon?

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This Week in IT, AMD says AI PCs will be a no brainer for businesses but exactly what benefit will they provide? Plus, Teams gets a new live chat feature, and Microsoft updates the Windows Admin Center with new security tools for Windows Server.

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Episode overview

This week in IT, AMD advocates for AI PCs as beneficial for businesses, while Microsoft introduces new features for Teams and updates the Windows Admin Center (WAC). The discussion revolves around the potential of AI PCs to enhance productivity by minimizing repetitive tasks, with 80% of IT decision makers expressing intent to invest in them this year. However, early reviews highlight underwhelming AI features.

  • Windows Admin Center Updates: The Windows Admin Center will now manage various security features, including silicon-based protections and Local Administrator Password Management (LAPS), to enhance security for Windows Server. 
  • AIPCs and Business Productivity: AMD’s survey indicates that over 80% of IT decision makers believe AI PCs will positively impact productivity by allowing employees to focus on critical tasks instead of repetitive ones.
  • Investment Trends: 80% of IT decision makers plan to invest in AI PCs, with IDC predicting that by 2028, 80% of global PC shipments will be AI PCs.
  • Windows Recall Feature: Windows Recall, designed for natural language search, is expected to enhance search capabilities on AI PCs, allowing users to locate information faster.
  • Windows Search Enhancements: Microsoft is introducing semantic indexing and natural language processing to Windows Search, improving the ability to find files based on context rather than exact terms.
  • New Features in Microsoft Teams: Microsoft Teams now includes a live chat feature for public-facing websites, enhancing customer interactions while centralizing communications within Teams.