- Lenovo presented a 3.5-inch mock-up of an ‘AI storage device’, which could be a portable SSD, a NAS, or something new
- Not a product announcement, but a proof of concept
- But presence of a red ring on one of the ports may indicate that it will be a ThinkStorage product
Lenovo has unveiled a new concept device at CES called “AI Storage”, which could be the company’s first AI-assisted NAS (Network Attached Storage).
The apparent prototype features a minimalist, space-efficient design with ventilation grilles on the right side for either active or passive cooling.
The 3.5-inch mock-up could be more than a traditional NAS, in that it might 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 dual status LEDs. These could indicate active connectivity or possibly its association with Lenovo’s ThinkStorage branding.
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 the market. Whether this device will evolve into a full-fledged NAS or will work as a versatile storage solution remains to be seen.
