With a sharp focus on AI, HP Inc, the American PC and printer maker, is hard at work to usher in a new era of computing designed to reimagine how we interact and live with technology. “AI- driven PCs will be a game-changer in the personal computing landscape. Imagine a personal companion that understands the way you work and how to make you most productive. We are about to transform what a PC is and what it can do,” says Ipsita Dasgupta, senior vice-president & managing director, HP India. She talks to Sudhir Chowdhary about the latest trends in the PC market and her company’s strategy to stay ahead. Edited excerpts:

What makes you so gung-ho about the gaming segment?

The last few years have been extremely positive for the PC industry with the emergence of new PC use cases. The hybrid work model has underscored the indispensability of PCs and accessories for both Indian professionals and households. Meanwhile, gamers and content creators have recognised the enhanced value and opportunities offered by PCs. All of this has created an incredible growth trajectory for PC sales across India, and we expect this momentum to continue into 2024.

One segment that has grown phenomenally is the gaming PC segment. Despite a sluggish overall consumer PC market in 2023, gaming PC sales demonstrated robust year-on-year expansion. Indian gamers are seeing gaming as a serious career opportunity and not just as a hobby or a casual pastime. Interestingly, gaming PCs are being used for content creation, academic work requiring high-performance PCs, and content consumption because of the experience. These trends and more are driving gaming PC adoption, and we expect the gaming PC market to keep buzzing. Added to this, we expect the overall PC refresh cycle to start in 2024 which will also drive PC sales.

How do you assess the impact of emerging technologies like AI and advanced connectivity on the PC market?

AI PCs will be a game changer in the personal computing landscape, and we are thrilled about the possibilities it brings. We are working closely with our silicon and software partners to redesign PC architecture and to launch HP’s AI enhanced PCs this year. Imagine a personal companion that understands the way you work and how to make you most productive. We are about to transform what a PC is and what it can do. The ability to run large language models locally will bring several advantages — including lower latency, greater security and reduced costs. As we move forward, these technologies will iterate to redefine the user experience, making PCs more intuitive at a personal level.

How will AI PCs benefit users in India?

The incorporation of AI into personal computers offers a range of tailored applications to meet the evolving needs of professionals. With millions of content creators and freelance workers in India, AI-capable PCs are poised to streamline tasks, boost productivity, and provide creative support, thereby reducing time spent on mundane or repetitive tasks.

What is your vision for the future of hybrid work and how is HP assisting enterprises in this regard?

The hybrid work model is here to stay, offering flexibility, productivity and balance between office and remote work for the modern workforce. However, enterprises require better technology to sustain this model. Less than 8% of the 90 million conference rooms worldwide are video enabled.  To cater to these evolving needs, HP has been working on its future ready strategy. We acquired Poly to provide innovative hybrid work solutions. It has transformed the meeting rooms, redefining collaboration through Poly solutions that ensure clear, high-quality connections for hybrid and blended working.

With a focus on innovation, HP’s range of products aims to keep employees and businesses connected, productive, and secure. Our products like the HP Spectre x360 and Dragonfly G4 come with advanced AI-enhanced audio & video capabilities.

In 2024, how does HP plan to maintain its focus on sustainability?

Sustainability is not just a commitment towards people and the planet, but it’s a driving force for our business. In the last fiscal, we’ve globally secured around 30% of deals influenced through our Sustainable Impact leadership, highlighting our deep focus on integrating sustainable practices in our business operations. Today, we are using recycled materials in 95% of our new printers, laptops, notebooks and workstations. We have also been actively working to eliminate single use plastic packaging, setting a target to eliminate 75% of such packaging by 2025.