For those that are looking for a "driving force" in the PC industry I submit that it is:
Microsoft
After all, it is MS (or Apple to some extent) who will "abandon" their earlier OS versions by no longer releasing security updates AND place hardware requirements on their newer OS versions that render perfectly functional hardware OBSOLETE thereby forcing uninformed users/owners to UPGRADE.
AI doesn't drive demand for consumer laptops. If anything I'd go out of my way to have something without this AI rubbish. Many also bought laptops during the pandemic and are unlikely to already need a replacement.
'AI' laptops, desktops and convertibles seem poised to take over the PC world already. According to new research, however, they are not likely to do so quite yet, with their percentage of the market projected to be in the single digits for 2024. Then again, they may also have the potential to be the thing that finally restores demand in the end.