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PCs – the central tool with which businesses and consumers approach modern productivity and leisure – are at the eve of a significant transformation in both hardware and software capability to enable the transition to large-scale AI usage. As AI tools advance, the need for IT components will escalate in the upcoming years.
The AI-capable PC market is set for substantial growth in 2025 and 2026. By 2027, shipments are forecasted to exceed 175 million units and research indicates that 60% of PCs shipped in 2027 is forecasted to be AI-capable. Currently, many PCs equipped with powerful CPUs and GPUs can already make use of AI functionality, often through leveraging cloud-based applications. However, truly meaningful AI use cases on PCs must prioritize real time responsiveness, low latency and enhanced security. Therefore, an “AI-capable” PC must be equipped with a dedicated chipset or block to accelerate AI computing. Moreover, for advanced AI software and tools, enhanced component performance becomes vital.
It is expected that AI functionality available to users will undergo a rapid evolution over the coming years, ramping up in complexity. These advancements will accelerate the need for components such as memory, storage and GPUs, eventually tailored to specific use cases. Circular IT can significantly contribute to this transition, whereas it aims to optimize the use and reuse of critical components that are expected to be the building blocks of AI-capable PCs. Examples of such circular IT practices are refurbishing, remanufacturing, upcycling and renting of IT hardware.
As AI applications diversify, the definition of AI will evolve transitioning to a nuanced grading system based on each PC’s AI functionalities and capabilities. There already are workstations, computers, thin clients and laptops that are specifically designed for heavy graphic design work or gaming, for example. This raises the question whether we are heading towards the development of a PC that will be entirely focused on AI functionalities, which would create an exciting new niche in the technology industry.
Microsoft and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have developed a new battery material based on High-Performance Computing (HPC) and AI, that could potentially reduce lithium usage by 70 percent. Laptops, which rely on lithium-ion batteries, are considered the most efficient on the market.
The research by the Azure Quantum Elements service explains that by reducing the reliance on lithium, the cost and environmental footprint of battery production for data centers can be significantly reduced. In addition, the development of batteries with less lithium contributes to more sustainable energy storage solutions. While scientific research currently focuses on reducing lithium usage, it may also lead to batteries with improved performance and capacity, which is critical for the energy requirements of modern data centers. “The intersection of AI, the cloud and high-performance computing, along with human scientists, is essential to accelerate the path to meaningful scientific results,” states Tony Peurrung, Deputy Director for Science and Technology at PNNL. “Our partnership with Microsoft aims to make artificial intelligence accessible to scientists. We see the potential for AI to bring forward a material or approach that is unexpected or unconventional, but worth exploring. This is a first step in what promises to be an interesting journey to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery”.
Although the results are promising, the research is still at an early stage. The exact chemical composition of the new material, which contains both lithium and sodium, is still subject to optimization. Research is also still needed on its performance when used on a larger scale.
Recently, a new method of recycling lithium was announced, that also might herald a promising break-through when it comes to the reduction of lithium usage. Big shortages of metals used in electronics such as laptops and smartphones are foreseen. Governments are expected to improve the infrastructure around recycling. In addition, an increase in investments is also required to research methods how crucial raw materials can be won from electronic waste.
Flex IT and HP Benelux have launched their joint product line ‘HP Approved Selection by Flex IT’ in the Nordics. Dustin, a leading online IT partner in the Nordics and the Benelux, will distribute the circular product line. This launch marks a significant milestone in the rollout of this innovative portfolio of refurbished IT devices and meets the growing demand for sustainable IT solutions in Europe.
In 2021, HP Benelux, in collaboration with Flex IT and Microsoft, introduced ‘HP Approved Selection by Flex IT’. This initiative was launched in response to the rising demand for more sustainable purchasing and the reuse of computers and laptops, a trend expected to see a significant increase in the coming years. The circular product line comprises laptops and desktop PCs that have been revitalized to conserve resources, ensure the longest possible lifespan, and thereby combat the fastest-growing waste stream in the European Union: e-waste. Additionally, these devices are equipped with new OEM Microsoft licenses.
With the introduction of this portfolio in the Nordic market, HP, Flex IT, and Microsoft are aiming to scale up their operations and showcase the added value of the program in other European countries. HP Approved Selection initially began as a pilot project in the Netherlands and now serves as a business case for promising sustainable IT solutions.
“The ecological footprint has become an important parameter for organisations when defining its success and attractiveness to its (business) partners, stakeholders and employees. Technology purchase decisions are an important part of working towards a more sustainable world. The HP Approved Selection program offers a big opportunity for organisations to extend the lifetime of products and lowering the footprint while having the quality assurances they expect. HP Approved Selection is gaining a lot of traction in the Netherlands and it is a logical choice to make this proposition available in the Nordics market.”, says Sindre Børdal, Head of Commercial Channel Nordics at HP Inc.
Dustin, a leading online IT partner in the Nordics and the Benelux, will distribute the circular product line in collaboration with HP and Flex IT. The goal is to assist businesses in transitioning to a more sustainable product portfolio and to contribute to the circular transformation of the industry.
Dustin’s comprehensive experience in the Nordic countries, positions them as an instrumental partner in endorsing the circular product line. Their insights into regional market trends ensure that HP Approved Selection will be seamlessly integrated into various organisational infrastructures. This is particularly relevant in a region that is known as a frontrunner in terms of sustainability, with initiatives to extend the lifespan of IT hardware through refurbishing and reuse.
“The expansion into the Nordics provides an excellent opportunity to promote this sustainability-focused portfolio more broadly in the market. We are confident that we can further enhance our product offering through expansion into a market that leads in sustainability. We’re proud to expand our popular concept together with HP and Dustin to the Nordics, thereby spreading the circular model even further,” adds Aat van de Polder, Director of Business Development at Flex IT Distribution.
By focusing on extending the product lifecycle and offering transparent Lifecycle Management through various sales models, ‘HP Approved Selection by Flex IT’ can accelerate the transition to a more circular IT approach. With options such as Buy-Back, New, Renew, Rental, and Refurbishment, the partners are committed to sustainable and environmentally friendly IT solutions.
For more information about HP Approved Selection, please visit: https://www.approvedselection.com/en/hp/