AI in work PCs: Lenovo CEO says it will not replace humans

Lenovo's CEO said around 15% of PCs will be AI PCs this year and predicted roughly half of enterprise-ready computers could be AI PCs by the end of 2026.

Lenovo's leadership discussed the spread of AI-enabled personal computers during a media Q&A at CES 2026. CEO Yuanqing Yang said the company expects about 15% of PCs to be AI PCs this year and suggested roughly half of enterprise-ready machines could be AI PCs by the end of 2026. He characterised AI as a tool that will empower people rather than replace them. Tolga Kurtoglu, Lenovo's chief technology officer, highlighted responsible AI and said the rapid pace of change makes long-range forecasting difficult. Key points: - Yuanqing Yang predicted about 15% of PCs will be AI PCs this year and forecast roughly half of enterprise-ready PCs could be AI PCs by the end of 2026. - Yang framed AI as augmenting people’s abilities, saying it will help users remember more, be more creative and more competitive rather than replace humans. - Lenovo mentioned its new Qira AI model as a factor that could encourage wider adoption of AI PCs. - Tolga Kurtoglu said responsible AI is a core principle and described a five-year roadmap as unrealistic given current innovation speeds, emphasising agility, adaptability and speed. - The company acknowledged that cost could limit full adoption of AI-enabled devices. Summary: Lenovo presents AI-equipped PCs as an emerging element of workplace technology with significant uptake expected over the next two years. Company leaders say the rapid pace of development and cost considerations make long-term prediction difficult, and they intend to prioritise learning from end users and moving quickly to adapt.