Lenovo Unveils Auto-Twist AI PC: A Revolutionary Concept in Laptop Design

Lenovo has made a laptop that can move on its own!

I got a first look at the Auto Twist AI PC concept, and it's seriously impressive. Lenovo has announced the launch of its latest laptop lineup (pardon the alliteration) - which features an array of next-gen devices that are utterly AI-infused and seriously smart. The company invited me to IFA Berlin this year to be one of the first to experience its new roster of AI laptops, and I was blown away by the Lenovo Auto Twist AI PC most of all. This PC responds to voice commands, and using its dual rotation automatic hinge, can open the lid, enter tablet mode, laptop mode, and close itself, all without the user having to touch it. Seeing a demo of this in person (and trying it out for myself) was a surreal experience and it feels like we're really living in the future. Although it feels a little like the lines are blurring rapidly between a robot and a laptop. The video below shows me talking to the Lenovo ThinkBook Auto Twist AI PC during a demo session with Lenovo, and despite my very quiet voice, it worked! This proof of concept is the world's first Auto twist PC design, and it can tilt too. This creative invention is intended for a clutter-free video call experience to help you move freely. No, the display won't snap off either (I asked). The hinge of the Lenovo Auto Twist AI PC is able to support 20 thousand mechanisms, and can intelligently determine if there is any resistance, like if you were to push your hand against it, and will simply stop. It also has tracking features when taking a photo, and can track you as you move to keep you in the frame, while fully rotating the screen 360 degrees if necessary to keep you on screen. This 13.3-inch Auto Twist AI laptop is seemingly just a concept (for now) but Lenovo says to watch this space for more announcements at its Lenovo Tech World showcase next month. Take a look at Lenoco's latest AI devices on its website, including the flagship Yoga Slim 7i Gen 9 Aura Edition (Intel model) and the exciting ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 (Snapdragon).

Lenovo's Auto Twist AI PC IFA concept has a motorized hinge that can follow you around and close itself via voice command

Lenovo's been at the forefront of convertible laptop designs since its first Yoga laptop shipped in 2012. But here ahead of IFA in Berlin, its latest Auto Twist AI PC concept attempts to take things into sci-fi territory, with a motorized "Dual Degree of Freedom" hinge that can track your movements to make sure you always have "optimum display visibility." Of course, this means your webcam will also keep you in frame for meetings, presentations, or video calls with friends and family. That could be convenient for those who don't like to sit or stand in one place for calls, and it's certainly striking to see a laptop screen follow you around the room. But it's also hard not to be reminded of 2018's Facebook Portal, which similarly had a screen and camera that followed users around the room. There is also no denying that the screen wobbles noticeably as it moves, despite a Lenovo representative telling me the company had done a lot of work to reduce it. Still, it's impressive that the company was able to fit motors into the base of the screen without giving it a huge bump. There is a slight bulge on the bottom, but it's barely noticeable -- especially when the screen is moving on its own. Of course, the Auto Twist AI PC concept is a full-blown laptop, and its motorized hinge can do a few other interesting things. At Lenovo's event, saw the laptop responding to voice commands, like "tablet mode," "laptop mode," and "close laptop." At one point, the screen did get stuck trying to convert to tablet mode, with the lid seeming to get stuck up against the keys. But after a quick reorientation and re-launching of the software, I didn't see any other issues in terms of movement. The lid is designed to automatically close itself when you step away from the laptop. Hopefully that last bit will be adjustable in terms of time and sensitivity. No one wants their laptop to close when they turn away for a few seconds to talk to a colleague. And if you're working from home, you probably don't want to have to open your laptop back up every time you get up to get a drink or a snack. If you're the slouching type, the Twist AI PC is also ready to nag you about it. Lenovo says the laptop has "wellness enhancements" designed to promote ergonomic computing and reduce strain. Honestly, most of us could use some help there. But I'm not sure I want my laptop automatically reminding me how tired I am by adjusting the screen angle when I'm hunched over at the end of the day (fine, also sometimes at the beginning of the day), or sending me notifications to sit up straight because the camera can tell that I'm slouching. This is, of course, a concept laptop. So you probably don't need to worry about your next company-issued ThinkBook sending TPS reports to your corporate overlords about your bad posture or how many times you paced across the meeting room during your last presentation about quarterly financials. But some of these features may eventually filter down to buyable devices. I don't hate the idea of a laptop that can open and close on its own - so long as the motors and mechanism are robust enough that I don't have to worry about them breaking. The Auto Twist AI PC did look a bit fragile, but it's still a concept. I'm sure if Lenovo ever releases a device like this with a motorized hinge, it will iron a few more kinks out before its launch date.

Lenovo AutoTwist laptop uses AI for hands-free technological wizardry

Lenovo likes to show off concept devices at trade shows -- earlier this year at MWC 2024, it exhibited a laptop with a transparent display. Fast forward to IFA 2024 in Berlin, and I've got my hands on Lenovo's 'AutoTwist' laptop which can adjust the screen for you depending on what you're doing. This proof of concept is 'AI-powered' -- what isn't these days? -- and sees Lenovo using artificial intelligence for something different to the countless image generators and ChatGPT clones that are out there. There's a more luxurious feel to the AI here that's more akin to getting optional extras on a new car that mean the trunk will close for you or even reverse parallel park without you having to touch the steering wheel. So, what exactly can the Lenovo AutoTwist do? To start, the motorized hinge can move the screen to face you if, for example, you're on a video call and move around (much like the Amazon Echo Show 10 smart display). Lenovo touts it as being suitable for presentations (if you're on stage and move around a lot but need to see the screen at all times) and generic 'personal use.' It's also voice-activated. You can use the command "Hi Twist" followed by "open lid," "laptop mode," and "tablet mode," and the display will move to the correct position without you lifting a finger. Furthermore, it will also close automatically if you leave the laptop unattended, so someone doesn't steal that amazing idea you just jotted down in a coffee shop while you pop to the bathroom. It worked impressively well during my hands-on time with the device, with the trio of micro-motors integrated into the hinge working responsively to the voice commands and movement. I'm also amazed at how thin and light the laptop is considering what it can do! The AutoTwist concept is only 1.27kg and 15.9mm. However, I do have some concerns as well. For starters, the display movement when following someone around the room was pretty jerky. I dare to think how shaky the video will be for the person at the other end. There's also the question, as with things like folding phones, as to how long the motorized hinge will last. Lenovo says it's good for more than 20,000 'times' which a spokesperson confirmed means closing, opening or swiveling. Just 20 movements per day would mean it has a lifespan of 1,000 days, so not even three years. Of course, Lenovo's AutoTwist is just a proof of concept, so you won't be able to go out and buy one any time soon. However, I could see Lenovo integrating the technology into a special 'AutoTwist' edition of a ThinkBook or ThinkPad after more development. The big question is how much that optional extra will cost if it does arrive on the market.

This Lenovo Concept Laptop Opens and Follows You on Command

When Lenovo put up its transparent laptop on display at MWC 2024 earlier this year, it baffled us all. We had only just recovered from that privacy nightmare, and now, Lenovo is showing off a new concept laptop that can transform on demand at IFA 2024. On top of that, this laptop can track your movements to ensure that the display is always facing you. What's happening here? How does it work exactly? All these questions were getting to me, so I dove a bit deeper into the new Lenovo Auto Twist AI PC. Here's all you need to know! Turns out, staying true to its moniker, the Lenovo Auto Twist AI uses AI to track your facial movements using a motorized hinge. The point of it is for the display to always face you, no matter where you are in the room. So, I guess I don't have to carry my laptop around the room during video calls anymore. So, yes, wherever you are, the laptop is going to be turning its head to face you. I honestly couldn't help but be reminded of the classic Exorcist scene where a possessed Regan turns her head 360 degrees. Ah, one of the best horror movie sequences ever. Very creepy though. Just when I thought that this twistable hinge mechanism had beat the dust, Lenovo revived it with this concept laptop. Many laptops today include a 360-degree hinge that folds all the way back, with the keyboard becoming the base of the laptop. That's probably why I am not as fond of 2-in-1 laptops anymore. However, with the Lenovo Auto Twist AI PC concept, they're bringing a twistable hinge mechanism that allows you to simply turn the screen 360 degrees and place it flat on the keyboard instead. Not to mention, this way you can make the laptop's display turn sideways towards any direction as well, which is a nifty little addition. However, do note that this is not a detachable screen. Now comes the cool bit. On top of all that, the Lenovo AI laptop can also use voice commands to transform into tablet mode or laptop mode. Lenovo showcases how these voice commands work in an X post, stating, It's like a helping hand, but way cooler. Introducing the Lenovo Auto Twist AI PC, a proof of concept device designed to move with you. Open saying, "Hi Twist, open lid," the laptop instantly does so. Thanks to C. Scott Brown of Android Authority, I was able to get a clearer idea of how the other voice commands work. Scott notes that there are three other voice commands to which the Lenovo Auto Twist AI responds. Upon saying, "Hi Twist, close lid" you can easily get the laptop to execute that action without putting a finger on it. In addition, you can also say, "Hi Twist, tablet mode" or "Hi Twist, laptop mode" for it to automatically transform. While it doesn't do the Optimus Prime voice, it's still cool enough. When The Verge asked Lenovo's communication director Jeff Witt what purpose this laptop serves, here's what he had to say - "We're still experimenting with that. A lot of these concepts don't come to market, but you may see elements of them down the line. It's got face tracking; it's basically a video conferencing system built into a laptop. There's a lot of accessibility potential." And I do agree with Witt to some extent. We're entering an unknown era of AI miracles, and while I don't understand the ultimate utility of a laptop like this, I'm sure it's not going to waste. For people with physical impairments, this can be a major game-changer. Besides, we are already making progress in eye and hand tracking. These technologies together could make a whole lot of difference, if you ask me. However, there are a lot of things that such a concept laptop needs to take care of to justify its commercial existence. What do you think of the Lenovo Auto Twist AI? Drop your thoughts in the comments down below!

Lenovo's Auto Twist AI PC is the robotic laptop you didn't know you needed

The Auto Twist could make your laptop feel like a handy robot companion. After covering the latest tech for over a decade, it's hard for companies to legitimately surprise me with something, let alone something that seems particularly useful, but Lenovo managed that feat with its Auto Twist AI PC concept. At an event on Wednesday, just days ahead of IFA 2024, Lenovo gathered journalists in a hotel conference room in Berlin to show off updates to its ThinkPad, IdeaPad, Yoga, and ThinkBook lines. However, one mysterious covered laptop remained until the very end: Hi Twist. Kevin Beck, Senior Story Technologist at Lenovo, revealed the laptop and greeted it with the phrase, "Hi Twist, open lid." The Twist obeyed with alacrity, popping open the lid to a comfortable working position. Now, while that is unexpected, I wouldn't be as interested in the Twist if that's where it ended, but it's got more to offer. You can give the Twist verbal commands to open, close, and go into tablet mode. But its more useful trick is the ability to track you with facial recognition if you are moving around either while presenting or on a call. Similar to some of the best external webcams that we've tested, it will keep you centered in the frame. While there are software solutions for this problem, they involve sacrificing some resolution to zoom in digitally; this retains your full, clean resolution throughout. Security conscious? The Auto Twist can also be set to automatically close its lid if you walk away from it, so no prying eyes can see what you are (or aren't) working on. Again this is a concept, so Lenovo has only just started to tap into what is possible with the design, but multiple ideas sprung up over the course of our time working with the laptop. There's also something about the laptop moving on its own that makes it feel a bit like your friendly robotic computer companion rather than an inert object. It harkened back to another Lenovo concept, the Magic Bay Studio that we awarded a best of CES 2024 award. That modular attachment could be used to give a laptop a whole host of different features, but among them was a little robotic companion that snapped on you onto the magnetic connector on the laptop's lid. A union of Magic Bay Studio and the Twist could be a match made in heaven. Do I expect to see motorized 2-in-1s as the next big thing in laptops for 2025? No, but it's an interesting notion with some real practical applications, and I love to see companies like Lenovo thinking outside of the laptop chassis and offering more than just the annual speeds and feeds upgrade. Here's hoping the Twist sees the light of a day as a full release in the future.

Lenovo's mind-bending Auto Twist laptop concept can track your face and follow voice commands

Taking a cue from the likes of the Echo Show 10, the Lenovo Auto Twist concept conjures up a face-tracking, Windows 11 Pro laptop with a motorized hinge. Revealed as part of Lenovo's Innovation World event adjacent to IFA 2024, the Auto Twist is definitely one of the more imaginative pieces of computing hardware we've seen this year. As it turns out, the concept device is aptly named. The 13.3-inch display twists and rotates and even dances all automatically. With vertical 180-degree and horizontal 270-degree movement (at 30 degrees and 20 degrees per second respectively) the Auto Twist is capable of carrying out a collection of convenient functions. First, using AI, the laptop's 5MP camera can detect your face and track it as you move. This could come in handy during presentations or video calls when it comes to staying in frame. Lenovo even included a panoramic photo setting as part of the Auto Twist demo, and while I can't say I've ever wished my laptop could do such a thing, it worked as advertised. Another neat trick baked into the Lenovo Auto Twist (powered by an Intel H Series Core Ultra 7 processor) is the ability to control the laptop's screen hands-free via voice commands. During the demo some commands I tried were, "Hi Twist, open laptop," "Hi Twist, tablet mode," and "Hi Twist, close laptop"... you get the point. Now, I'm not sure how much easier this was than just opening and adjusting my laptop with my hands, but I imagine that this could have some major potential from a user accessibility standpoint. And, it is cool that apparently when you walk away from the laptop, it will shut intuitively for your privacy's sake. But as with anything with a motor and hinge, there's a big question about how long something like this will last. Lenovo is estimating a life cycle of 20,000 times. It's obviously a possible point of failure, though surprisingly, I didn't witness the machine suffer any snags. That said, the Lenovo Auto Twist is very much just a concept, with no price or release dates in conversation. Similar to the company's transparent ThinkBook concept from earlier this year, the Auto Twist is simply being shown off to gauge reception and interest. Is this the kind of thing laptop shoppers are looking for? It's hard to say, but it does seem more modernly realistic than some of the other concepts we've seen over the years.

Lenovo's crazy Auto Twist concept has a screen that follows you around

Key Takeaways Lenovo's new concept Auto Twist AI PC has a screen that swivels using AI. Voice and camera controlled PC, limited voice commands but neat features. It likely won't be released for sale, similar to some previous Lenovo concept devices. It just wouldn't be a trade show without some wacky new concept from Lenovo. This time at IFA 2024, it's the Auto Twist AI PC, which as the name suggests, has a swivel on the hinge so the screen can turn around. Not only that, but it's all automated, using AI. Note: Lenovo sponsored flight, hotel, and meals for my trip to IFA. A voice and camera controlled PC Close While the laptop is closed, you can say, "Hi Twist, open lid", and the Lenovo Auto Twist opens up and wakes. Note that being a concept device that's probably not going to see the real world, the voice control was pretty limited. I made the mistake of saying "Hey Twist", and it didn't work. Once it's up and running, it uses the camera for the screen to follow you around. If you're doing a presentation, you can make sure the screen, and any text you need to read, is facing you. It's pretty neat. There are more voice controls as well. You can tell it to close the lid, go into tablet mode, and so on. You do have the option to use it as a regular old ThinkBook laptop, and when you're done, the lid will automatically close when you walk away. Is this practical in real life? For most people, it's probably not. It's a concept PC, after all. And it's a true concept laptop, meaning Lenovo is probably never going to ship this in real life. We see a lot of products that at least feel like concepts from Lenovo, one example being the ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid. It's a Windows laptop with a detachable display that turns into an Android tablet. With an Intel processor powering the laptop and Snapdragon powering the tablet, it certainly felt like a concept at CES, but you can buy one today for around $3,500. I don't think we'll see the Auto Twist for sale, despite Lenovo's tendency to sell concepts at a "no one should actually buy this" price.

Lenovo's Auto Twist concept laptop has a lid that can swivel and bow down at your command

It can automatically transform into tablet mode, and even dance a bit. Last year, Lenovo showed off a fantastically futuristic concept gadget called Project Crystal, which was the world's first laptop to feature a transparent MicroLED display. But today, in what has become a tradition for Lenovo during IFA, the company is back with yet another demo notebook, this time equipped with a motorized rotating hinge. Dubbed the Auto Twist AI PC, Lenovo's latest concept looks almost exactly like a traditional clamshell when closed. However, with a simple voice command, its lid raises automatically and rotates into practically any position -- even all the way around into tablet mode. While there is no official pricing, or even plans to bring the device to full production just yet, Lenovo says the Auto Twist is designed to provide enhanced adaptability, improved ergonomics and possibly better security. But for now, the company's main goal is simply to see what environments or use cases might be able to best take advantage of a laptop with this kind of novel design. Thanks to built-in object tracking, for example, the Auto Twist can move its display and follow people as they walk around a room, which could be very helpful when making presentations. It can also detect a person's body, and possibly even their posture, before moving its display into the best position to reduce fatigue or strain. Alternatively, the laptop can detect when it's not being used and then close its own lid to prevent unwanted users from gaining access. And while the Auto Twist's AI tag feels a bit spurious, Lenovo hopes the laptop will be able to do many of these things on its own or through simple natural language voice control (the laptop currently supports commands to transform into laptop mode, clamshell mode and more). After seeing it in person, the most immediate use case that came to my mind was in POS (point-of-sale) payment terminals. Here, employees often have to manually flip a screen around so that the customer can see their total or add in things like a tip. Granted, the Auto Twist does seem like overkill in that situation considering how easy it is to rotate a screen around the old-fashioned way with your hands a basic hinge. And at least from what I saw, the built-in motor wasn't quite as smooth as you'd probably want for commercial applications. But, it is an interesting idea with potential for high-end luxury outlets. Then there's just the fun of it. During my demo, I watched as the Auto Twist played a clip of a dancer as its motorized hinge attempted to make its display match the person's movements. I also saw the laptop swivel its display horizontally to present an ultra-wide panoramic photo in a more engaging way. Additionally, while other bleeding-edge tech like laptops with foldable displays suffer from a ton of added weight and bulk, the rotating servo on Lenovo's latest concept is relatively unobtrusive and there isn't a huge impact on the device's overall portability. So while it remains to be seen how useful the Auto Twist really is or what it might turn into down the line, I appreciate that Lenovo is still trying to come up with new ways to evolve the classic clamshell laptop.

I went hands-on with Lenovo's auto-swiveling laptop at IFA 2024, and it's quite the spectacle

Lenovo's latest Intel ThinkBooks can rotate 270 degrees and open and close on their own, raising some interesting questions -- good and bad. Lenovo just unveiled a handful of new laptops with novel features ahead of IFA 2024 in Berlin, but one of the coolest is its new Auto Twist concept on its new line of 13-inch Intel ThinkBooks. We've all seen "convertible" laptops that allow the screen to fold all the way back -- this feature takes it a step further by enabling the screen to rotate horizontally in either direction, as well. This means you can flip your screen around 180 degrees to show it to someone sitting directly opposite of you with the keyboard in place, then fold it back completely to turn the laptop into a tablet. Also: Your next laptop may be powered by this Intel AI chip, and the benefits are mind-blowing Even more impressive is the voice activation feature, which prompts the laptop to open and close the screen on its own. If you say, "Hey Twist, open laptop," for example, the clamshell cheerfully opens up. Conversely, saying "close laptop" closes the screen no matter its configuration. Saying "tablet mode" will rotate the screen to become a proper tablet, and "laptop mode" switches it back. Seeing it for yourself. There are also some interesting integrations with the laptop's camera. For example, if you're using the laptop for a video call or giving a presentation, the display "locks on" to your face and will auto-rotate to stay facing you, with a maximum horizontal rotation of 270 degrees. I recently had a chance to experience the new Auto Twist feature at a Lenovo product demo, and the idea as a proof of concept is impressive in the sense that I couldn't help but think, "I'm surprised no one's thought of this before." Also: OpenAI, Intel, and Qualcomm talk AI compute at legendary Hot Chips conference In practice, however, I wonder about its usefulness. Opening and closing the lid is hardly the most challenging thing you can do on a laptop, especially because it's much faster to do it yourself. When it opens and closes on its own, it does so very carefully, and while the motion is mostly smooth, there's some screen wobble as it rotates into position. Perhaps more useful is the laptop's ability to close the display on its own after a designated period of inactivity. This means you can walk away from your laptop and return to find it closed and locked, a handy security feature. I was also curious about the logistics involved with this and couldn't help but ask what would happen if you push the screen open while it's trying to close or vice versa. Luckily, because there are no gears involved, nothing will be damaged if you force the screen in either direction. If the laptop meets resistance, it simply stops moving, and you can rotate and move the display on your own. Conversely, the other scenario that comes to mind is if the laptop decides to open up on its own somehow. We've all experienced a voice-activated device that takes on a life of its own (Alexa, I'm looking at you), so what if it's in your bag and it decides to flip open? First, Lenovo says the laptop won't respond to voice controls if it's off or asleep, obviously, and if it meets any sort of resistance, it will stop moving. Hopefully this prevents spontaneous backpack deployments, though with any early technology, we'll have to wait and see to be sure. Also: Microsoft's Copilot+ Surface devices are finally coming to business users. Here's what's new The micro motor is integrated into the single hinge in the center of device and is what Lenovo is calling the dual degree of freedom automatic rotate system (DARS), with an estimated life cycle of at least 20,000 rotations. While the swiveling laptop itself is still a concept, the Auto Twist AI feature will be available on Lenovo's Intel line of 13-inch ThinkBooks with Intel Core Ultra 7 processors sometime this fall.

Lenovo Presents ThinkBook Auto Twist AI PC Concept With Motorized Hinge

Lenovo played around with 360-degree hinges for its laptops years ago, but then the company opted for the dual-hinge design in its original Yoga two-in-one and the rest is history. Now it's thinking about trying again with the more flexible hinge design, but with some perks made practical by the passage of time. The ThinkBook Auto Twist AI PC, Lenovo's latest concept laptop, has a hinge that can rotate all the way around and lay the screen flat for a tablet mode. This model's, uh, twist, is that it's motorized, can obey voice commands for its operation and can automatically follow you to position itself. "Why?" you may ask. My initial reaction when I saw it was it seems like a clever design for people who do a lot of presentations. Because it can be voice operated it might have physical constraints. Lenovo tosses security into the mix, since it can close the lid if you walk away. There's not a ton of AI, just a little of the basic stuff you can do with an NPU; it's the presence of the NPU that makes it an "AI PC." Lenovo also launched its new cross-line Aura Edition laptops -- starting with the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 and Yoga Slim 7i -- which primarily seem to be differentiated by the "Smart" software they include, which is essentially expanded or skinned versions of what's available in Windows, plus access to a sort of customized support experience (like HP's Dragonfly Pro). For example, the Attention allows you to set attention timers and silence notifications. That's more or less what Focus mode in Windows lets you control. Collaboration turns on a user-defined set of Windows Studio Effects. Smart Share is similar to Windows Unison, but slicker; you can launch it by tapping your phone to the screen edge (it uses software, not a hardware sensor). They were co-somethinged with Intel, so they're based around the new Core Ultra 200V series processors Intel announced this week. The ThinkPad Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition is slated to ship in November starting at $1,999; the 15-inch Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition ships this month starting at $1,299.

Lenovo's twisting 2-in-1 is the best kind of concept laptop | Stuff

Lenovo can usually be relied on to bust out a wacky concept or two at trade shows, but I think the Auto Twist AI PC Proof of Concept it unveiled at IFA stands a better chance of making it to the mainstream than most of its previous headline-grabbing gadgets. I didn't know I needed a hybrid laptop with a fully automatic hinge that can open and close with a voice prompt, but Lenovo's slick demo already has me sold. Essentially a ThinkBook 2-in-1 with a mechanical hinge that can rotate a near full 360-degrees, the Auto Twist is no thicker than a normal hybrid laptop, but can articulate itself to any angle under it's own steam - no hands required. You just say one of its trigger phrases, like "close laptop", "tablet mode", or "open lid". Not only is this brilliant for accessibility, but Lenovo has baked in some AI to track user movements, so you can always keep the screen in view. That'll be very handy if you're presenting to an audience and like to roam the stage. Apparently it'll also reduce strain by adjusting to suit your posture. Walk away and it'll automatically shut the lid and lock the Windows desktop, so you don't have to worry about ne'er-do-wells accessing your docs while you spend a penny. The camera mode can shoot panoramas with a single button press, using the webcam built into the front of the screen bezel. Naturally my first thought was to create a homage to the spider man pointing at spider man meme by quickly moving from one side of the room to the other. In the ten minutes or so I spent with the concept, I'd already thought of a few funky possibilities - one button timelapse videos would be a boon for creators, and the laptop could become a sentry bot for monitoring your work space when you're not around. It doesn't move especially quickly, and there was a bit of wobble on show as it tilted and panned around the room, but the subject tracking was on point, and the (clearly still early) software was pretty quick to stitch panoramas together. The firm isn't talking internal hardware just yet, as a CPU candidate wouldn't be locked in until the machine was ready for full production. But with new Intel Core Ultra chips, AMD Ryzen AI and Qualcomm Snapdragon silicon all vying for your attention, it's feasible any of the three could find a home inside a machine like this. It helps that hinge aside, this is a fairly conventional laptop; compared to February's Project Crystal, which felt like tech without any real purpose, I could see this on shop shelves pretty quickly.

The Lenovo Auto Twist PC opens and contorts itself by voice | Digital Trends

You've never seen a laptop like this -- I guarantee it. At IFA 2024, Lenovo showed off what might be the most fascinating laptop of the year so far -- the Lenovo Auto Twist PC. It's just a proof of concept, but it introduces some really fun ideas into the world of laptops. Recommended Videos For starters, the laptop can open and close its lid with a voice command, with the user simply saying "Hey Twist, open lid." You have to be standing in front of the device, but the voice command works quite well if you do. From there, you'll see that the "twist" aspect of the laptop comes into play, meaning that the display can rotate almost 180 degrees. Again, this can be controlled by voice by simply saying, "Hey Twist, enter tablet mode." This would rotate the screen around and the close the lid flat. One of the most interesting demos was the "Free Move" option, which would follow you around the room using the camera. It doesn't currently use face tracking though, so if someone else steps into the frame, it chooses one face to follow. This seems particularly useful if you're moving around while talking, such as in a boardroom or classroom -- or perhaps even to use as a teleprompter while being able to move freely. More than that, though, it's just neat. Lastly, Lenovo showed off a panorama photo demo that could use the twisting hinge and webcam to take a panoramic photo, which is then stitched together using AI. It has some other interesting features such as closing the lid automatically when the device is unattended. Yes, it's a little gimmicky, but I came away impressed at how well the tech demos worked. The commands don't have to match exactly, and the demo even worked in multiple languages. There are still some kinks and bugs, such as the fact that there sometimes a small gap when trying to close the lid manually. The screen itself also felt a bit wobbly on the center rotating hinge. Lenovo is no stranger to experimentation in laptops. In fact, we've even seen a Lenovo laptop that can spin around in the ThinkBook Plus Twist. The swiveling hinge is reused here, but to much more impressive ends. As this is a proof of concept, there's no guarantee Lenovo will actually release this device. Then again, the company has a proven track record for actually bringing experimental devices to market, so here's to hoping this isn't the last time we see this interesting laptop.

I demoed Lenovo's auto-swiveling ThinkBook at IFA 2024, and it's as bizarre as it sounds

Lenovo's new Intel ThinkBooks can rotate 270 degrees and open and close on their own, raising some interesting questions -- good and bad. Lenovo just unveiled a handful of new laptops with novel features ahead of IFA 2024 in Berlin, but one of the coolest is its new Auto Twist concept on its new line of 13-inch Intel ThinkBooks. We've all seen "convertible" laptops that allow the screen to fold all the way back -- this feature takes it a step further by enabling the screen to rotate horizontally in either direction, as well. This means you can flip your screen around 180 degrees to show it to someone sitting directly opposite of you with the keyboard in place, then fold it back completely to turn the laptop into a tablet. Also: Your next laptop may be powered by this Intel AI chip, and the benefits are mind-blowing Even more impressive is the voice activation feature, which prompts the laptop to open and close the screen on its own. If you say, "Hey Twist, open laptop," for example, the clamshell cheerfully opens up. Conversely, saying "close laptop" closes the screen no matter its configuration. Saying "tablet mode" will rotate the screen to become a proper tablet, and "laptop mode" switches it back. Seeing it for yourself. There are also some interesting integrations with the laptop's camera. For example, if you're using the laptop for a video call or giving a presentation, the display "locks on" to your face and will auto-rotate to stay facing you, with a maximum horizontal rotation of 270 degrees. I recently had a chance to experience the new Auto Twist feature at a Lenovo product demo, and the idea as a proof of concept is impressive in the sense that I couldn't help but think, "I'm surprised no one's thought of this before." Also: OpenAI, Intel, and Qualcomm talk AI compute at legendary Hot Chips conference In practice, however, I wonder about its usefulness. Opening and closing the lid is hardly the most challenging thing you can do on a laptop, especially because it's much faster to do it yourself. When it opens and closes on its own, it does so very carefully, and while the motion is mostly smooth, there's some screen wobble as it rotates into position. Perhaps more useful is the laptop's ability to close the display on its own after a designated period of inactivity. This means you can walk away from your laptop and return to find it closed and locked, a handy security feature. I was also curious about the logistics involved with this and couldn't help but ask what would happen if you push the screen open while it's trying to close or vice versa. Luckily, because there are no gears involved, nothing will be damaged if you force the screen in either direction. If the laptop meets resistance, it simply stops moving, and you can rotate and move the display on your own. Conversely, the other scenario that comes to mind is if the laptop decides to open up on its own somehow. We've all experienced a voice-activated device that takes on a life of its own (Alexa, I'm looking at you), so what if it's in your bag and it decides to flip open? First, Lenovo says the laptop won't respond to voice controls if it's off or asleep, obviously, and if it meets any sort of resistance, it will stop moving. Hopefully this prevents spontaneous backpack deployments, though with any early technology, we'll have to wait and see to be sure. Also: Microsoft's Copilot+ Surface devices are finally coming to business users. Here's what's new The micro motor is integrated into the single hinge in the center of device and is what Lenovo is calling the dual degree of freedom automatic rotate system (DARS), with an estimated life cycle of at least 20,000 rotations. While the swiveling laptop itself is still a concept, the Auto Twist AI feature will be available on Lenovo's Intel line of 13-inch ThinkBooks with Intel Core Ultra 7 processors sometime this fall.

Lenovo made a laptop that can transform itself

Lenovo is back with another twisting laptop, and this time, it can twist itself. Today at IFA, the company showed off its Auto Twist AI PC concept, which has a motorized hinge. It can track your movements and rotate its display to face you as you walk around it and can transform itself into different modes in response to voice commands. The Verge's Jennifer Pattison Tuohy got a hands-on -- well, hands-off -- demonstration. The Twist AI is a motorized take on the twistable form factor, which dates back more than 20 years. Most 2-in-1 laptops today have 360-degree hinges that let them fold backward into tablet mode with the keyboard facing outward on the bottom. But earlier convertible laptops rotated on a center hinge and then folded over the keyboard. HP and Acer were making them at least as far back as 2002. When HP and Lenovo briefly revived the form factor in 2012, we called them "traditional convertible tablets." Lenovo did it again in 2023 with an OLED display on one side and an E Ink screen on the other. (That one sounded great, but it didn't live up to its potential when I reviewed it.)

I said 'Dance!' to this Lenovo Auto Twist laptop, and the display twirled 360 degrees like 'The Exorcist'

Lenovo Auto Twist can respond to your voice commands. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable At an IFA 2024 showcase, Lenovo unveiled a gaggle of new laptops that feature the shiny new Intel Core Ultra 200V series chips. The hyped-up Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chips, found inside some of the best laptops of 2024 (e.g., Microsoft Surface Laptop 7), are all the rage, but there's a new sheriff in town. Intel claims that its Core Ultra 200V series processors can deliver up to 20 hours of battery life. We'll have to test this bold proclamation for ourselves, but these processors can be found inside Lenovo's brand-spankin' new ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition (among other new Lenovo laptops.) While checking out the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition, however, Lenovo surprised me with a new voice-activated concept laptop called "Lenovo Auto Twist AI PC." The Lenovo Auto Twist can respond to the following commands, with "Hi Twist" being the wake word. The most jaw-dropping commands were "Hi Twist, Open Tablet Mode" and "Hi Twist, Dancing Mode." From a clamshell state, I watched the Lenovo laptop swivel its display 360-degrees -- like The Exorcist -- and bend backward into a tablet mode posture. Creepy, but fascinating. The "Hi Twist, Dancing Mode" command showed off the Lenovo Auto Twist's full range of motion. With a ballerina on the screen, I saw the laptop do 180-degree turns before placing the display in an awkward, unnatural position. (Hey, not every laptop has rhythm; give this one a break.) The mission behind the Lenovo Auto Twist is accessibility. Some users may benefit from a voice-activated laptop that doesn't require certain handsy maneuvers. Again, the Lenovo Auto Twist is just a proof-of-concept, so you won't find it on the market anytime soon. But it gives us a peek into the future, giving us insight into what may come our way down the line.

This Lenovo AI laptop concept creepily follows you around the room with its ever-watchful screen

Are you the type to put Blu Tack over your webcam, for fear of someone getting access to it? If so, Lenovo's new AI PC concept probably isn't for you, as its central gimmick requires having a reading of your face at pretty much every moment. As reported by Tom's Hardware, the Auto Twist AI PC is a new laptop concept that was shown off at IFA in Berlin just this week. It comes with a "Dual Degree of Freedom" hinge that allows the screen itself to spin around, while the webcam captures your face and tells it where to go. It can slide up and down, or left and right to look at your face as you walk away or get closer to the screen, although it does seem to encounter the odd hiccup. For instance, the screen wobbles pretty substantially when readjusting, and flicks back and forth between two different people in front of it. With a built-in microphone, the laptop can respond to commands, like converting it to tablet mode or closing the laptop lid. However, the lid appears to have been caught on keys trying to move from laptop to tablet mode, and required a restart to get running again. Despite my cynicism, I can understand the type of user that would actually get some use out of this. If you swap from a seated to a standing desk or can never quite get comfortable in your chair, the moving screen means not only being in the frame during meetings but also giving you a better viewing angle for casually streaming video. As well as this, if you are someone who likes to pace around during meetings or wants to give a presentation with a whiteboard, this could mean you could effectively set up anywhere, and let your computer do the framing for you. However, for someone like me, I don't think I'd ever get the use out of this, and would likely just turn that mode off. The webcam is also used to give "wellness enhancements", like fixing your posture as you use it with regular reminders. This concept is interesting but I don't know if many users would respond well to their laptop critiquing them. Being a concept, we might never actually see this device hit wider production, and if it does, it should be in a more stable state. As Microsoft Copilot machines make their way into the world, signalling widespread adoption of AI, this concept is one of the strangest uses of it in PCs I've seen yet.

Lenovo showcases new AI PC concept with 'Smart Lid' that follows users

China's Lenovo showcased its Auto Twist AI PC concept at the Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA) 2024 event in Berlin, Germany. The concept device features an auto-rotating hinge that allows the display to reposition itself according to the user's position. Lenovo said that the design is aimed at enhancing user interaction through intelligent automation and artificial intelligence.