HP Inc. introduced a new artificial intelligence platform designed to connect workplace devices and simplify how employees collaborate, as the PC maker pushes deeper into enterprise software and services.

The company unveiled “HP IQ” at its HP Imagine 2026 event in New York, describing it as an intelligence layer that uses on-device AI and proximity-based connectivity to coordinate tasks across laptops, conferencing systems and other office equipment.

The move reflects HP’s strategy to embed AI directly into hardware while offering businesses tighter control over data and workflows at a time when companies are increasingly cautious about cloud dependence and security risks.

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“HP’s vision for the future of work is a connected, intelligent ecosystem,” said Tuan Tran, president of HP’s Technology & Innovation Organisation, adding that the platform aims to reduce “digital friction” and improve productivity.

HP IQ will debut on the next generation of EliteBook PCs, allowing users to interact with files, generate summaries and capture meeting notes using built-in AI tools. The system also includes a feature called NearSense, which enables devices in close proximity to automatically connect, share files and join meetings with minimal setup.

The company said the platform is designed with a “local-first” architecture, meaning most AI processing happens directly on devices rather than in the cloud.

This approach aims to enhance speed and maintain sensitive corporate data within enterprise systems, while still permitting cloud support when company policies allow.

HP is also integrating the platform with its Workforce Experience Platform, which gives IT departments centralised oversight of devices, security and compliance. The system can also work with tools such as Microsoft Intune.

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The rollout underscores intensifying competition among PC makers and enterprise tech firms to define how AI reshapes office work. Rivals have been embedding generative AI into operating systems and productivity tools, but HP is betting that tighter integration between hardware, software and workplace infrastructure will differentiate its offering.

Early access to HP IQ is expected to begin in spring 2026 on select devices, with broader deployment across HP’s product lineup planned for the second half of the year.

The push signals HP’s shift beyond traditional hardware into AI-driven workplace ecosystems, as it seeks new growth in a market where PC sales alone have become increasingly cyclical.

Wasiu Alli is a business, economics cum data journalist with strong expertise covering macro trends, capital markets, government policies, corporate earnings and comparative economics analysis. Alli turns raw data into trends that not only tells compelling stories but nudges investors to make valued and informed decisions. He’s an alumnus of Lagos State University and trained at Lagos Business School. He formerly heads the Companies and Markets desk at BusinessDay where he writes and supervises the production of well researched articles on earnings updates, corporate sectoral comparisons, market intelligence as well as interviews with C-suite executives.

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