- Lenovo showed off a 3.5-inch mockup of an “AI storage device,” which could be a portable SSD, NAS, or something new
- Not a product announcement, but a proof of concept
- But the presence of a red ring on one of the ports may indicate that it will be a ThinkStorage product
Lenovo revealed a new concept device called “AI Storage” at CES, which could be the company’s first AI-assisted Network Attached Storage (NAS).
The apparent prototype features a minimalist, space-saving design with ventilation grilles on the right side for active or passive cooling.
The 3.5-inch mockup could be more than a traditional NAS, in that it could also function as a portable SSD, or serve an entirely new purpose, blurring the lines between storage and AI integration .
A smarter future for storage?
The concept image shows that this device will support a standard RJ45 Ethernet port accompanied by two status LEDs. These could indicate active connectivity or possibly its association with Lenovo’s ThinkStorage brand.
A visible USB-C port should enable high-speed data transfers via USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt protocols. There’s also another USB-C port marked with a distinctive red ring, presumably for power.
It’s important to note that a good number of concept devices never make it to market. It remains to be seen whether this device will evolve into a full-fledged NAS or function as a general-purpose storage solution.
