Laptop docking stations may evolve into ‘AI docks’ with video and apps

Here is a 199-word summary of the key points from the news article: Laptop docking stations are evolving to become "AI docks" with additional video and app capabilities. Synaptics, a major chipmaker for docking stations, is driving this transition. Current docking station technologies like Thunderbolt and DisplayLink are competing, with Thunderbolt offering more bandwidth and DisplayLink using compression for high-speed video. Synaptics believes its signaling expertise can give it an advantage in future docks. Synaptics is working on integrating its Astra IoT chips into docks, transforming them into "smart" docks with edge AI capabilities. This could enable features like gesture controls, visual recognition, and intelligent bandwidth management. The docks could also handle diagnostics and failure analysis. Additionally, Synaptics is exploring universal presence detection, using cameras and sensors to identify users and optimize the experience, such as blurring unused displays or prioritizing a user's voice on video calls. Synaptics sees these "AI docks" as a way to provide tailored solutions, in contrast to a "one-size-fits-all" processor approach. The company is working closely with laptop makers like Dell and Lenovo to integrate these new capabilities.