So far, all the AI PCs that have been announced have all been laptops. Though the discrete GPU nestled inside a desktop gaming PC is a lot more powerful than a neural processing unit (NPU) embedded in a CPU, for whatever reason, it's been decided that AI PCs will be laptops, at least for now. Now, MSI is looking to change that dynamic with its MEG Vision X AI PC, which, as far as we can tell, is the first desktop AI PC announced. The company showed it off at Computex this week, and it certainly has some interesting features.
The star of the show here is a gigantic touch screen that adorns the entirety of the mid-tower's front bezel. MSI calls this an AI human-machine interface (HMI). According to MSI, the front-facing display can show hardware temps, clock speeds, and other system-related information, but it's also integrated with MSI AI engine software. This "AI engine" can detect running applications, such as games or content creation apps, and automatically optimize the system's performance for the currently running app. We're unsure if that means overclocking, changing fan speeds, or what, but we'd be curious to hear more details.
This AI engine can also autonomously adjust case lighting, audio settings, and the wallpaper on the HMI to make the user experience more immersive, whatever that means. In addition, MSI also has a new app called AI Artist x MSI Chat, which MSI says is an AI assistant, though it sounds like a custom version of ChatGPT or something similar to Nvidia's new ChatRTX app. MSI says it can generate AI artwork, search local files, and provide summaries based on your queries without an internet connection. This is similar to what Nvidia's app can do, and MSI notes this approach keeps all your info safe and secure since it's stored locally instead of in the cloud.
On Instagram, MSI notes that the touch screen, er AI HMI, is powered by the CPU, while the GPU powers the monitor. It also says you can access Microsoft Copilot directly from the touch screen via voice command. You just have to say, "Hey, Copilot," and the chatbot will awaken from its slumber. It states Copilot will respond with voice prompts to your queries via a built-in speaker, laughably stating it is "further blurring the line between artificial intelligence and humans."
Regarding specs, according to TechRadar, this AI PC will feature the latest hardware from AMD and Intel, including Ryzen 9000 series CPUs and Intel's upcoming Arrow Lake processors. Given that Arrow Lake is rumored to launch in October, those of you pining for an AI-powered desktop will have to wait a few more months to experience it in person.
