As artificial intelligence evolves from a reactive tool to a proactive assistant known as Agentic AI, capable of running autonomous tasks, hardware manufacturers face a significant engineering challenge. HP is positioning itself to lead this next phase of computing by focusing on the critical hardware required to run heavy AI workloads locally. The company recently launched the OmniPad 12, which Ipsita Dasgupta, senior vice-president and managing director of HP India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, stated will help the company achieve its goal of becoming the platform of choice.
HP's Vision for AI-Driven Computing
"Our focus is to be the platform of choice. We recognise that people will do lots of things on the platform, and it is connecting the user to these use cases with devices that are secure, efficient and effective," Dasgupta told The Times of India when asked about HP's plans to address the expanding role of AI in personal computing. "The devices optimised for things like thermal power, battery power and allow for the most intense work that anyone needs to do to happen. So, think about us as the platform on which this kind of work will be done," she added.
OmniPad 12: Bridging Mobile and PC
The OmniPad 12 marks HP's entry into a new category of personal computing, combining the productivity of a PC with the flexibility of a tablet through dual modes. It features a detachable keyboard, is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, and runs on the Android operating system. Designed for students, first-time users, and on-the-go professionals, the device boasts a 12-inch display and is claimed to offer up to 18 hours of battery life. Priced at Rs 48,999, it will be available starting June.
Explaining the positioning of the OmniPad 12 and how HP aims to bridge the transition from mobile to PC, Dasgupta emphasised that HP's engineering strategy centers on creating hardware capable of withstanding the intense technical pressure of continuous local processing. Rather than competing to build flashy consumer AI applications, the tech giant is setting its sights on becoming the foundational bedrock for the next generation of software.
"OmniPad 12 is not the next step, it's the step before. The 'BC' in the traditional form of the PC. It's that step that we are trying to meet customers who are mobile friendly, most comfortable with touch, very comfortable with flexibility, who want the more productive, capable construct of a PC. It's that transition for those individuals. To bridge the movement from a mobile to a PC," she told TOI.
AI Adoption and Growth Opportunities in India
When asked whether Indians are paying a premium for AI or still prefer value-sensitive products, Dasgupta clarified that Indians will always go for value-for-money products and want to get the work done. "India has bet on technology. As productivity becomes more important, and technology becomes more a part of productivity today, we want to enable a workforce that can service the whole world. Given how young our population is, we want to create ways on the PC to have skilling and better income generation opportunities; and tools as well as capabilities. My belief is, we're going to see a shift towards that being the major spend in a household," Dasgupta pointed out.
She said that since consumers are intuitively using AI all the time now, it's only a matter of time before they feel that computing power will be necessary.
