Tech titans Intel and AMD are wading into the AI PC arena in a big way.
Processor ranges such as Intel’s Core Ultra or AMD’s Ryzen 8000G (previous to this, AMD had the Ryzen 7040 series which featured the “Ryzen AI” engine), respectively, each feature an NPU to take on some of the AI workload — workloads such as AI-effects on video calling and for video generation, better multi-tasking with AI-accelerated software, and AI assistants.
You’re going to see “productivity” and “efficiency” and “advanced collaboration” bandied around a lot.
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But remember, Intel and AMD are somewhat late to this game. When Apple kicked Intel to the curb and replaced the chip giant with its own line of M-series processors in 2020, these chips all featured “neural engine” NPUs.
But the story goes further back. In September 2017, Apple unveiled the A11 Bionic chip for the iPhone, which was the first of its chips to feature a neural engine. Some Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile processors also featured neural engines back in 2018.
Intel and AMD aren’t so much leading the way, but instead playing catchup.
