Lenovo Auto Twist: A creepy voice-activated laptop that responds to ‘Open,’ ‘Close,’ and even ‘Dance’

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.”

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Lenovo Auto Twist AI PC: What can it do?

The Lenovo Auto Twist can respond to the following commands, with “Hi Twist” being the wake word.

“Hi Twist, Close Laptop”

The Lenovo Auto Twist in its “closed” state. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

“Hi Twist, Open Laptop”

The Lenovo Auto Twist’s display. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Hi Twist, Open Tablet Mode

Lenovo Auto Twist on its journey to tablet mode. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

“Hi Twist, Dancing Mode”

Lenovo’s laptop can do a twisty dance to show off the range of its capabiltiies. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

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.

Mashable