Lenovo hails hybrid AI

Partnerships are the key ingredient to satisfy increasing demand for artificial intelligence, as the world enters a phase of “hybrid AI”, according to Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing.

Hybrid AI, the Lenovo CEO claimed, comprises of personal AI, enterprise AI and public cloud and all three components are vital to making AI a success he said.

Yang, who spoke in front of thousands of gathered journalists and partners during the keynote of Lenovo Tech World 2024 in Seattle, claimed that demand for AI in enterprise has “never been higher”.

“We use the power of AI to preserve the most cherished things,” he noted.

“It’s all about using AI to build a smarter future, together…AI is real, it’s not a fleeting trend or inflated bubble.”

His keynote address included appearances from some of tech’s biggest names including Intel CEO Patrick Gelsinger and AMD chief Lisa Su, who joined the Lenovo boss on stage. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft boss Satya Nadella also joined remotely via a video link.

Yang – better known as YY – was keen to highlight the collaborative approach Lenovo is taking to AI development.

Gelsinger shared some significant numbers, revealing that all PCs will be AI PCs by 2030 with over 20 million AI PCs already shipped.

The Big Tech boss said that this was “the AI era – and it’s an incredible time to be in technology.”

He likened it to the initial age of the Internet, with the same impact on users everywhere.

“It will fundamentally change the relationships between people and technology,” he added, “every person with a PC has AI at their fingertips.”

On the relationship between Intel and Lenovo, he added: “We are entering a new ear of innovation” spanning PC, edge, data centre, and IoT.

Smarter for all

At the keynote, YY unveiled Lenovo’s new suite of AI products and services, including its first AI agent, as part of its Smarter AI for All program.

He claimed that Lenovo AI Now can bring together all the files, messages and documents, bypassing the cloud, to increase efficiency. The agent is stored locally on a device, meaning it can work without an internet connection, and can integrate with existing PC assistant facilities.

The move marks the latest enterprise shift toward ‘agentic AI’, with a host of other industry counterparts having launched their own AI agent offerings in recent months.

Salesforce unveiled a sweeping new strategy centred around AI agents across its product ecosystem during Dreamforce 2024.

Lenovo built its AI on Meta’s Llama 3.1 large language model, combining CPU (central processing unit), GPU (graphics processing unit), and NPU (neural processing unit) power to offer high speeds without draining too much battery, Lenovo claims.

The AI is launching initially on Lenovo’s Aura range of devices from 2025.

New technologies announced include the launch of Hybrid AI Advantage for enterprises; the latest ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition AI laptop, Lenovo AI Now local AI agent, and Lenovo Learning Zone software platform; next-gen Lenovo Neptune liquid cooling for servers for more sustainable AI; and proofs of concept that harness AI for social impact.

YY added: “Building on the announcements from last year’s Tech World, we have been actively delivering on our hybrid-AI vision for customers and partners across the globe.

“We already see that AI is improving the quality of life for individuals and delivering higher productivity for enterprises—and Lenovo makes this paradigm shift faster, more accessible, more connected, and more sustainable.”