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For decades, the world of personal computers operated on a nearly unchangeable formula: an Intel or AMD chip, Microsoft's Windows operating system, and everything else revolving around it. A boring but reliable formula. That's about to change, and quite radically.
The ecosystem we knew is cracking. Intel's hegemony in PCs has been so absolute that it even has its own term: "Wintel" (Windows + Intel). But at Computex 2026, NVIDIA unveiled its new RTX Spark line with the GB10 superchip, signaling a deeper push into the PC market, dominated for decades by Intel and AMD. The world is no longer the same.
And on the other hand, Google has made an equally significant move. The company has announced Googlebooks, new laptops that merge Android with ChromeOS, integrating Gemini (its AI pillar), Google apps, and the developer community as central components of the ecosystem. They've even showcased eye-catching features like "Magic Pointer," an intelligent cursor developed with Google DeepMind that analyzes what's on the screen to suggest contextual actions.
Two very different approaches, one shared goal: making AI available and getting users to buy their machines. And this is where the story gets interesting, because we're looking at two radically different visions of the future of the PC.
On the one hand, Googlebooks aim to be affordable and easy-to-use computers, with deep integration of artificial intelligence through Gemini. Their offering is aimed at the average user who wants simplicity, a good experience, and a reasonable price.
On the other hand, NVIDIA is targeting professional users and developers with something much more powerful. The RTX Spark chip arrives with the full support of Microsoft, which has announced two new devices: the Surface Laptop Ultra and the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box, with manufacturers like Asus, Dell, Lenovo, HP, and MSI also joining the platform. But the price puts things into perspective: GB10-based systems could cost between $3,000 and $4,000, keeping this first wave geared toward the premium segment of the market.
Microsoft seems caught in the middle, and its situation is, to say the least, uncomfortable. It has hundreds of millions of Windows 10 users who haven't made the jump to Windows 11, partly because the transition was poorly managed and generated more confusion than enthusiasm. The contrast with Apple is striking: its users have been migrating to its own chips (the M family) for years with hardly any friction, maintaining enviable loyalty.
Now Microsoft is trying to reposition itself by betting heavily on "Copilot+ PCs" with integrated AI capabilities, but the challenge is enormous. Gartner estimates that AI PCs will represent 31% of the global PC market in 2025, with approximately 78 million units, and projects that they will reach 143 million in 2026, equivalent to 55% of the total market. AI in hardware is no longer an option: it's the inevitable direction.
And what about the average user? The big question remains the same as always: what do most people really need? The answer hasn't changed much: a computer that works well, is easy to use, lasts, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg.
That user who currently has an outdated Windows 10 laptop isn't going to spend €3,000 on an AI developer machine. But they might be willing to make the leap if someone offers them a Googlebook or a PC with well-integrated AI at a competitive price.
Conclusion: the next two years could be decisive. The PC market is entering one of its most transformative periods since the arrival of multi-core processors. Google, NVIDIA, Microsoft, and Apple are positioning themselves to grab their share of the pie. The cards are on the table, but the game has only just begun.
What is clear is that AI will be in every personal computer. The question is who will be able to make it useful, accessible, and affordable for the average user. Because in the end, the one who best understands what people truly need always wins.
We'll know soon enough.
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