US chip giant Intel on Tuesday unveiled technologies it claimed would spearhead the artificial intelligence revolution, striking a defiant tone in the face of fierce competition from competitors Nvidia, AMD, and Qualcomm.
Intel has controlled the market for semiconductors that power everything from laptops to data centers for decades. However, Nvidia and other rivals have outperformed it in recent years with regard to specialized AI processors.
In addition to introducing Intel's newest Xeon 6 server processors, CEO Pat Gelsinger provided additional information about the company's upcoming Lunar Lake CPUs for AI PCs during a keynote address at Computex in Taiwan.
"AI is driving one of the most consequential eras of innovation the industry has ever seen," Gelsinger stated.
"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."
According to Gelsinger, Intel's most recent hardware offers the finest possible balance of price, energy efficiency, and performance.
He said that the cost of Intel's Gaudi systems, which are used for sophisticated AI tasks like model training, is only one-third that of rival products.
Following keynote addresses by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, AMD CEO Lisa Su, and Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, Gelsinger's talk was filled with accusations and denials on which company's products were the most AI-friendly.
Su and Amon presented in-depth information on the processors their businesses have created for personal computers with artificial intelligence.
This month, Microsoft revealed the Copilot+ AI PCs, which will ship with Windows that includes artificial intelligence technologies.
These will have AI functions on the device and not just through the internet, and in addition to Microsoft, they will be sold by some of the largest manufacturers in the world, such as Dell, HP, Samsung, and Lenovo.
Specifically, Gelsinger disregarded Qualcomm's assertion that its AI PC chips outperformed those of Intel.
"I just want to put that to bed right now," he replied. "Ain't true!"
According to Intel, which referenced the Boston Consulting Group, AI computers are predicted to account for 80% of the PC market by 2028.
Computex is Taiwan's premier annual technology event, and the country's semiconductor industry is essential to the manufacturing of everything from ChatGPT servers to iPhones.
Taiwanese manufacturers have become key players in the AI strategies of the world's top tech companies, who are placing significant bets on the technology.
Most of the most cutting-edge semiconductors in the world, including those required for the most potent AI research and applications, are made on the island.
The goal of Taiwan's government is to utilize these capabilities to hasten the adoption of AI worldwide.
During a visit to Computex on Tuesday, President Lai Ching-te, who took office last month, stated, "We have a lot to do to build Taiwan into an AI smart island."
But Taiwan's pivotal role in the semiconductor supply chain, which is essential to the modern economy, has raised concerns in boardrooms and capitals across the globe.
Although Taiwan is a sovereign nation, China maintains territorial claims to the island and has stated that it will never give up using force to annex it.
Beijing and Taipei's relationship has gotten worse in recent years, and the Chinese military has conducted several major drills all around the island.