MWC 2025: Lenovo’s AI Stick Lets You Tap Into AI Without Buying a New Laptop

At MWC 2025, Lenovo introduced a new way for users to add AI functionality to their existing computers without replacing them. The AI Stick, a compact device about 9cm in length, is designed to bring AI-powered enhancements to PCs that lack a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU).

The device connects through a Thunderbolt port, enabling AI-driven features like local Large Language Models (LLMs) and AI-enhanced graphics processing.

Making AI More Accessible

Lenovo’s AI Stick is part of a broader effort to expand AI capabilities beyond high-end devices. It features a 32-TOPS NPU, which allows PCs to process AI tasks locally, reducing the need for cloud-based processing. The device can also be powered through a wall socket, ensuring stable performance for resource-intensive applications.

Unlike Microsoft's Copilot+ AI features, which require 40 TOPS of processing power, Lenovo offers its own AI Now suite. Based on Llama 3.1, Lenovo AI Now enables local Large Language Model (LLM) processing and AI-powered graphics generation.

While the AI Stick offers a convenient way to upgrade existing computers, its reliance on a Thunderbolt port means it won’t work with all PCs, particularly older models. This limitation may restrict its adoption, but for users with compatible systems, it provides an alternative to buying a new AI-enabled laptop.

AI Display: A Monitor with Built-in AI Processing

Alongside the AI Stick, Lenovo also introduced the AI Display, a monitor that integrates its own discrete NPU. This means that even if a connected PC lacks built-in AI hardware, the monitor can handle AI workloads independently.

The AI Display can extend AI functionalities to connected devices, making it another option for users looking to enhance their computing setup without upgrading their entire system.

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