At the MWC 2025, Lenovo has been turning heads with its latest AI-powered hardware innovations. The company also took this opportunity to showcase some fascinating proof-of-concept devices that could potentially hit the market in the future. Among these innovations is a novel AI Display POC, featuring an integrated Neural Processing Unit (NPU). This new monitor exemplifies Lenovo’s dedication to “smarter technology for all,” offering significant value particularly to PCs that lack their own NPU.
A standout feature of the AI Display is its ability to utilize large language models (LLMs) and an AI assistant even on non-AI PCs. While Lenovo hasn’t disclosed the exact power of this NPU, typically measured in TOPS, the most captivating aspect is the monitor’s automatic adjustments. It can rotate, elevate, and tilt on its own to provide an optimal viewing experience. Imagine how convenient it would be if, while you’re focused on your work, the monitor takes care of all those ergonomic adjustments for you. Although this sounds amazing, whether it works seamlessly in real-life scenarios remains a question.
On top of that, Lenovo rolled out another intriguing concept—the AI Stick. This discreet NPU, with a power of 32 TOPS, can be paired with any Thunderbolt-powered PC. It proves handy for those who already own a high-quality monitor but want to experience AI-enhancement. Capable of running on Thunderbolt or AC power, this gadget is designed to use Lenovo AI Now, LLMs, and AI-enhanced graphics, although its horsepower falls short for Windows 11’s Copilot+ features, which demand a minimum of 40 TOPS. Yet, given this is still a concept, these numbers might shift before an official release.
The AI Stick is remarkably portable, about the same size as an external M.2 SSD enclosure, making it ideal for on-the-go usage. However, Lenovo is yet to reveal specific details about its release or pricing, leaving us to speculate if such AI-powered tools will soon be ubiquitous.
Lenovo is clearly exploring innovative possibilities in AI hardware add-ons, as seen in their latest PCs and accessories. For instance, the ThinkCentre neo Ultra I reviewed last year introduced the idea of a discrete NPU with its Kinara Ara-2 model, boasting 40 TOPS to manage Copilot+ tasks. However, at the time, it was more of a promise, as the NPU wasn’t active pending a software update.
While Lenovo hasn’t specified how many TOPS the AI Display POC delivers, it’s presumably more than enough to handle its automatic functions and run LLMs. In contrast, the AI Stick’s NPU caps at 32 TOPS, limiting its capability for Copilot+ operations. While NVIDIA’s GPUs, like the RTX 4070 Super, significantly outperform these NPUs in AI tasks, Lenovo’s target audience seems different. The AI Stick is more about boosting your existing system’s AI performance slightly, freeing up CPU and GPU resources for other tasks and enhancing local security by keeping data offline.
For a niche market, the AI Stick could be advantageous, but widespread appeal might hinge on the arrival of more AI applications. Speaking of which, Lenovo’s AI Now suite, introduced alongside the AI Stick, could be something to watch.
Lenovo AI Now combines hybrid large models with your personal knowledge to create an AI assistant divided into two branches: the Knowledge Assistant and PC Assistant. The Knowledge Assistant offers secure ways to gather information, ask questions, and generate content using local processing to protect privacy. On the other hand, the PC Assistant is all about optimizing your computer, offering intelligent setups and timely Lenovo services.
Future updates promise even more features, but regional support and specifics may vary. Though the AI Stick currently lacks the power for Copilot+, Lenovo’s AI Now is set to evolve, potentially making the AI Stick a must-have for enhancing non-AI PCs.
