--- title: "Why on-device AI matters for AI PCs with Snapdragon X Elite" url: "https://www.qualcomm.com/snapdragon/news/why-on-device-ai-matters-for-ai-pcs-with-snapdragon-x-elite" description: "Ahead of the first AI PCs powered by Snapdragon hitting store shelves later this year, let's break down the three main benefits of on-device AI." --- # Why on-device AI matters for AI PCs with Snapdragon X Elite Snapdragon Insiders May 17, 2024 ![A Snapdragon X Elite chip sits in the center of the frame, surrounded by a blue circuit board.](https://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/dmqualcommprod/Header_688x410-40?$QC_Responsive$&fmt=png-alpha) Extras for Snapdragon Insiders - [Become a Snapdragon Insider](https://www.qualcomm.com/snapdragoninsiders/become-insider) - [Follow Snapdragon on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/snapdragonofficial/) - [Follow Snapdragon on X](https://twitter.com/Snapdragon) - [Follow Snapdragon on Discord](https://discord.com/invite/snapdragon) - [Follow Snapdragon on TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@snapdragon) Today, most generative AI applications exist in the cloud. You ask your digital assistant a question, that question gets sent to a data center to get processed, and then the output is sent back to your device. Known as **cloud AI** processing, this is how generative AI applications work for most consumer devices, because only data centers are powerful enough to run these massive generative AI models. This all changes with [Snapdragon® X Elite](https://www.qualcomm.com/products/mobile/snapdragon/pcs-and-tablets/snapdragon-x-elite) Compute Platform. With an industry leading [neural processing unit (NPU)](https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq/2024/02/what-is-an-npu-and-why-is-it-key-to-unlocking-on-device-generative-ai) that's capable of 45 trillion operations per second ([TOPS](https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq/2024/04/a-guide-to-ai-tops-and-npu-performance-metrics)), this new compute platform has enough processing power to run generative AI models right on your PC. As more technologies, features, and apps adopt AI to create new user experiences and functionality, this **on-device AI** capability is incredibly important when it comes to performance, efficiency and privacy and security. You've likely already [heard](https://twitter.com/Snapdragon/status/1770575632776228923?s=20) from some Snapdragon Insiders about how excited they are about Snapdragon X Elite and its on-device AI prowess. Ahead of the first AI PCs powered by Snapdragon hitting store shelves later this year, let's break down the three main benefits of on-device AI together with this new compute architecture. **Performance Reborn** The traditional cloud AI model is great in that all you need to access it is an internet connection. However, as generative AI grows in popularity, so do latency issues as more users access the great, but finite, compute resources of the cloud. This is where the 45 TOPS NPU from Snapdragon X Elite has the potential to completely change the PC experience with on-device AI processing. With 3.5 times more performance than the next-best NPU out there today, Snapdragon X Elite NPU brings the data center to your device, handling AI-powered tasks, while freeing up the CPU and GPU for everything else. That means that you can do things like take advantage of AI video enhancements in Microsoft Teams, while multitasking in other apps without bogging the system down or completely draining your battery. **Efficiency Matters** Another benefit of on-device AI is that it can complement existing cloud AI in something known as **hybrid AI**. With the two working in tandem, your PC can use on-device processing for when latency really matters, and then utilize the cloud when it needs to draw on those much larger, more sophisticated models running only in a data center. The end result is a PC that's performant and, collectively, more efficient as it offloads work from the cloud. A recent [analysis](https://creativestrategies.com/research/gen-ai-edge-testing/) found that Snapdragon X Elite on-device AI capabilities can run generative AI 28 times more efficiently compared to similar data center generations. Hybrid AI will be crucial in bringing intelligent computing into the hands of more users, while potentially minimizing the environmental impact. **Improved Privacy and Security** When everything is processed on-device, your personal data stays on your PC, which means you get an unprecedented amount of security. It also means you can enjoy an unprecedented amount of personalization, opening up opportunities for your AI PC to train itself on personal datasets to better protect your privacy. **The Future of the AI PC is Now** The most exciting thing about on-device AI, is that you won't have to wait for it. Recently, Snapdragon Insiders went hands-on with Snapdragon X Elite at our [eXperience Day](https://twitter.com/Snapdragon/status/1770575632776228923?s=20), and walked away [impressed](https://twitter.com/sinclairinat0r/status/1770834111151686047). Snapdragon Insiders like Devin Arthur were able to [generate images in seconds](https://twitter.com/Lexcyn/status/1775174634742194513), and [experience](https://twitter.com/Lexcyn/status/1773408857869427182) smooth stable framerates in resource-intensive games. We can't wait to see what the wider Snapdragon Insiders community can do when the first devices with Snapdragon X Elite hit store shelves later this year. *How do you want to harness the power of Snapdragon X Elite on-device AI? [Head over to Discord to discuss](https://discord.com/invite/snapdragon).* [Compute](https://www.qualcomm.com/snapdragon/news?tags=Compute) [AI](https://www.qualcomm.com/snapdragon/news?tags=AI) When commenting in the Snapdragon Insiders forums, please follow our terms of use found [here](https://www.qualcomm.com/site/terms-of-use). Qualcomm Snapdragon is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. 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Snapdragon and Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. ## Related Articles - [The Top Snapdragon Summit 2026 Moments Everyone's Talking About](https://www.qualcomm.com/snapdragon/news/the-top-snapdragon-summit-2026-moments-everyone-s-talking-about) — Snapdragon Insiders — Sep 30, 2026 - [The New Mobile & Sound Platforms Just Announced at Snapdragon Summit 2026](https://www.qualcomm.com/snapdragon/news/the-new-mobile---sound-platforms-just-announced-at-snapdragon-su) — Snapdragon Insiders — Sep 24, 2026 - [(UK) Snapdragon Insider's recommendation: What should students look for in a university laptop in 2026?](https://www.qualcomm.com/snapdragon/news/-uk--snapdragon-insider-s-recommendation--what-should-students-l) — Snapdragon Insiders — Sep 22, 2026 - [Snapdragon Power Meets Gemini Intelligence: Introducing Googlebook](https://www.qualcomm.com/snapdragon/news/snapdragon-power-meets-gemini-intelligence--introducing-googlebo) — Snapdragon Insiders — Sep 21, 2026 - [How the Nothing Phone (4a) Series and Snapdragon Are Enhancing Mobile Photography](https://www.qualcomm.com/snapdragon/news/how-the-nothing-phone--4a--series-and-snapdragon-are-enhancing-m) — Snapdragon Insiders — Sep 8, 2026 ![](https://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/dmqualcommprod/Discord_logo?$QC_Responsive$&fmt=png-alpha) ## Join the conversation on Discord. 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