HELLO AND WELCOME to this very forward-looking edition of Maximum PC. This issue, we’re giving you our take on two of the latest developments in the PC world. The first is a deep dive into the world of AI: what you can do with the tech everyone’s talking about, where it might all be heading, and if you should be concerned whether your next PC is ‘AI certified’ or not. The second is our first build using the brand new ‘BTF’ form factor, a new standard that aims to make desktop PCs easier to build, cleaner to look at, and generally just less of a mess of cables.
When it comes to ‘artificial intelligence’, I can’t blame you if the recent overuse of the term now results in an eye-roll whenever you hear it. There’s bound to be some scepticism from hardcore desktop PC users, who are seeing Qualcomm, Microsoft, HP, and many others co-opt the term, dollar signs flashing in their eyes as they see a chance to make a quick buck. However, I quote our writer Zak Storey here when he says he’s “very much an AI convert now” after penning our cover feature.