In addition to the various technological innovations in AI PCs including high-speed computing, transmission, and power efficiency, the evolution of the human-machine interfaces is also a topic the industry is highly interested in.
With AI possibly bringing more new applications, many industry professionals are starting to consider whether the traditional mouse and keyboard control scheme used in computers can be replaced. Alternative interfaces include voice, touchscreen, and gestures.
This leads to a topic currently discussed on the market: in future AI PCs, will fingerprint or facial recognition become the primary method to start PCs, or will both modules be used simultaneously?
Manufacturers supplying these two technologies are still working hard to enhance their specifications and related features, hoping to win the favor of Microsoft and other PC brand producers.
Fingerprint recognition
Fingerprint recognition chip manufacturers, including Synaptics and ELAN Microelectronics, have been actively planning for fingerprint recognition technology in PCs for a long time. Although Apple is currently the only brand on the market to have fully adopted fingerprint unlocking, it appears that the Windows camp is also seriously considering expanding the integration of fingerprint recognition modules in its PCs.
Industry insiders note that Microsoft strongly recommends PC brands adopt fingerprint recognition in the hardware specifications for Windows 11 to enhance the information security of PCs. It is clear that relying solely on password inputs no longer meets the information security requirements of the upcoming AI era. Additionally, entering passwords is not as intuitive as using fingerprint recognition, making the future of fingerprint recognition very promising.
Facial recognition
It's not just fingerprint recognition chip manufacturers noticing that password unlocking is gradually becoming outdated. CIS suppliers like OmniVision and various visual sensor supply chain players have also recognized that notebook front cameras can be used to unlock future PCs and prevent displays from being viewed by passers-by from behind, offering greater privacy.
Industry sources believe that both facial and fingerprint recognition unlocking are technologies that have been utilized in smartphone applications for many years. However, these technologies have not been widely introduced into PC applications due to cost issues. Each recognition method has its supporters, but in terms of functional extensibility, using camera modules to handle PC unlocking and other privacy issues is clearly the more attractive solution.
Which side will prevail?
Currently, considering existing functional demands and cost structures, PC brands are still cautious about introducing these two features and have not implemented them comprehensively.
PC supply chain sources indicate that brands are indeed still observing which technology direction to take. The determining factor will be which can provide better privacy protection while being more efficient in terms of use and cost structure. Therefore, brands are already introducing related features in some high-end models to observe consumer reactions.
At the same time, brands are also trying to expand the other functions of these modules. After all, if fingerprint recognition modules or high-end cameras are introduced, it would not be cost-effective to use them only for unlocking.
However, sources believe that based on the foreseeable future development, facial recognition currently has a slightly higher chance of prevailing. The primary reason is that front camera modules offer many more extended functionalities compared to fingerprint recognition. These include video calls, facial unlocking, background detection, and standby wake-up, all of which are AI-related applications already in development.
Additionally, based on the development trends in smartphone applications, while some consumers still prefer fingerprint recognition over facial recognition, it is undeniable that facial recognition unlocking is more widely adopted in smartphones now.
Ultimately, the decision will likely rest with PC brands and Microsoft. In particular, Microsoft's influence on overall AI PC hardware specifications is much greater than before, and their judgement of the entire software and hardware ecosystem could determine which technology ultimately prevails.
