Windows 10 ESU is a temporary patch: AI PCs are a long-term strategy

Windows 10 ESU is a temporary patch: AI PCs are a long-term strategy:
Use the Windows 10 transition to align your endpoints with AI, security, and business priorities

| Posted October 26, 2026

Reading Time: 4 minutes

In brief:

Windows 10 Extended Security Updates buy time, but the program doesn’t replace a modernization strategy. For organizations evaluating device refresh plans, AI PCs can support AI workloads, strengthen security, and reduce operational burden while meeting business and productivity needs.

A year after Windows 10 reached end of support, many organizations still face a decision: renew Extended Security Updates (ESU), upgrade eligible devices to Windows 11, or replace aging hardware.

ESU, however, only extends security patches. It doesn’t prepare your endpoints for the way work is evolving around AI.

Why Windows 10 ESU is a stopgap, not a strategy

ESU’s second year began October 14, 2026, and the price doubled to $122 per device. Pricing is also cumulative, so devices that skipped year one cost $183 to enroll now. Year three begins October 13, 2027, when the per-device price doubles again to $244.

The program offers no performance improvements or AI capabilities, and extending the life of legacy devices may increase support demands while postponing the benefits of a modern endpoint strategy.

For devices that can’t run Windows 11, ESU only delays a refresh. For those ready to move to Windows 11, upgrading can avoid further ESU costs.

What AI readiness means for your next device refresh

Moving off Windows 10 is more than an operating system upgrade. It’s a chance to determine whether your device refresh strategy will support AI workloads and employee productivity needs.

AI is becoming part of everyday work, from search and content creation to software development and analytics.

Gallup reports that as of May 2026, 52% of U.S. employees use AI in their role, and 30% use it frequently.

AI PCs include dedicated neural processing units (NPUs) capable of running AI workloads locally on the device. NPUs handle tasks like real-time transcription and image generation without relying on cloud processing, which can improve responsiveness.

Not all AI PCs deliver the same experience, though. Two devices with similar specs can perform very differently when running local AI models, working on battery power, or handling multiple workloads at once.

The value depends on whether the applications your employees use can take advantage of on-device AI. Match supported workflows to specific needs rather than assuming every role will benefit equally. In practice, that often means segmenting your endpoint strategy into three groups:

Legacy replacements: Devices that can’t run Windows 11 and require replacement.
Standard upgrades: Devices that can transition to Windows 11 and continue meeting business requirements without on-device AI capabilities.
AI-intensive workloads: Roles and workflows where local AI processing can improve productivity, responsiveness, and user experience, making AI PCs a strategic investment.

Factoring AI readiness into your current refresh can help optimize hardware investments today while reducing the need for another large-scale device replacement in the near future.

How modernization strengthens security and reduces complexity

Newer devices introduce hardware-based protections that legacy endpoints may lack. When comparing replacement options, look at those protections alongside operating system and endpoint security capabilities. The goal is to address your security requirements, not assume that an AI PC designation alone delivers stronger protection.

IT teams also need to weigh the support demands of older endpoints. Compare maintenance, troubleshooting, deployment, and management costs when budgeting for a refresh instead of just focusing on the price of replacement devices.

Aging devices drain IT resources. When hardware reduces friction instead of adding to it, your team can spend less time on maintenance and more time improving security and supporting AI initiatives.

How SHI helps you evaluate, deploy, and manage AI PCs

SHI’s end-to-end device lifecycle management services span procurement, deployment, support, optimization, and retirement of endpoint devices. Rather than treating a Windows 10 migration as a one-time project, we partner with you to develop a comprehensive, ongoing strategy built around your business outcomes.

Our Next-Gen Device Lab and BenchSmart assessment tool enable you to objectively compare AI-capable devices and identify the right platforms for your employee personas and workloads. SHI also supports performance-based refresh strategies, supply chain visibility through SHI One, secure global deployment, and lifecycle optimization designed to improve operational efficiency and lower overall costs.

SHI’s device lifecycle management services can improve provisioning and support efficiency by 50% to 70% and reduce total cost of ownership by 21%, according to Omdia.

Build a long-term endpoint strategy beyond Windows 10 ESU

ESU buys time, but it isn’t a modernization plan. As you shape the future of your endpoint environment, the Windows 10 transition allows you to align device investments with evolving productivity, security, and AI requirements.

Assess modernization decisions in terms of business outcomes as well as technology capabilities. According to Microsoft, AI PCs can deliver up to twice their cost in business value over a three-year period, helping you tie technology investments to measurable results rather than simply preserving the status quo. AI PCs can anchor an endpoint strategy built for where work is headed, even when deployment is prioritized for the roles that benefit most today.

NEXT STEPS

Ready to move beyond ESU?

Test AI PCs in SHI’s Next-Gen Device Lab.

Learn more about SHI BenchSmart

Speak with an SHI expert about your device modernization strategy.