AI PCs aren't selling, and Microsoft's PC partners are scrambling

ZDNET reports that at a CES 2026 briefing, Dell executives said consumer interest in “AI PCs” has underwhelmed and that AI-centric messaging confuses buyers, prompting a shift away from “AI first.” The article critiques Microsoft’s Copilot progress, highlights Satya Nadella’s increased product oversight, and notes that while new PCs ship with NPUs (from Qualcomm, Intel, and AMD), current Copilot capabilities don’t yet justify the hardware, so OEMs must market devices on traditional strengths.