US chip titan Intel Corp yesterday struck a defiant tone in the face of strong challenges from rivals Nvidia Corp, Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD) and Qualcomm Inc, unveiling technologies it said would lead the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution.
For decades, Intel has dominated the market for the chips that run everything from laptops to data centers. However, in recent years, its competitors, especially Nvidia, have soared ahead on specialized AI processors.
During a keynote speech at Computex Taipei, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger introduced the company’s latest Xeon 6 processors for servers and shared more details about its next-gen Lunar Lake chips for AI PCs.
Photo: Cheng I-hwa, AFP
“AI is driving one of the most consequential eras of innovation the industry has ever seen,” Gelsinger said.
“The magic of silicon is once again enabling exponential advancements in computing that will push the boundaries of human potential and power the global economy for years to come,” he said.
Intel’s latest equipment provides the best available mix of performance, energy efficiency and affordability, he added.
Photo: Annabelle Chih, Bloomberg
Intel’s Gaudi systems — used for advanced AI work such as training models — would be one-third the cost of similar products from competitors, he claimed.
The Gaudi systems will be offered by partners like Dell Technologies Inc and Inventec Corp (英業達), he said.
“This is the most consequential time of our careers together,” Gelsinger said, reiterating the importance for Intel of working with its partners. “We were made for this moment.”
Gelsinger’s presentation followed earlier keynote speeches by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳), AMD CEO Lisa Su (蘇姿丰) and Qualcomm’s Cristiano Amon — and they were replete with claims and counterclaims about which firm’s products were best for AI.
Su and Amon gave detailed presentations on the chips their companies have developed for AI-enhanced PCs, after Microsoft last month unveiled its Copilot+ computers infused with AI features.
Gelsinger took a direct shot at Huang’s claim that traditional processors like Intel’s are running out of steam in the age of AI.
“Unlike what Jensen would have you believe, Moore’s Law is alive and well,” he said, adding that Intel would have a major role to play in the proliferation of AI as the leading provider of PC chips.
“I think of it like the Internet 25 years ago, it’s that big,” Gelsinger said. “We see this as the fuel that’s driving the semiconductor industry to reach US$1 trillion by the end of the decade.”
Gelsinger, in particular, rejected Qualcomm’s claim that its AI PC chips were better than Intel’s.
“I just want to put that to bed right now,” he said. “Ain’t true!”
AI computers are expected to be 80 percent of the PC market by 2028, Intel said, citing the Boston Consulting Group’s projections.
Additional reporting by Bloomberg
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