Intel accelerates AI performance by launching processors in Q3 that more than triple AI performance compared to the previous generation.

Intel announced on the 21st that its next client processor (codenamed Lunar Lake) will be installed in more than 80 new laptop models from 20 OEMs in the third quarter of 2024, targeting the holiday season, and will provide AI performance to Copilot+ PCs.

Luna Lake will offer Copilot+ features like Recall via post-launch updates.

Building on the success of Intel® Core™ Ultra processors and adding Luna Lake, Intel is on track to ship more than 40 million AI PC processors this year.

“With breakthrough power efficiency, trusted compatibility with x86 architecture, and the industry’s deepest suite of CPU, GPU and NPU software implementations, Intel will deliver the most competitive joint client hardware and software offering in our history with Luna Lake and Copilot Plus,” said Michelle Johnston Holthaus, senior vice president and general manager of Intel’s Client Computing Group.

AI PCs have central processing units (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), and neural processing units (NPUs), each with specific AI acceleration capabilities.

NPU is a specialized accelerator that efficiently processes AI and machine learning (ML) tasks directly on the PC instead of sending data to be processed in the cloud.

As the need to automate, streamline, and optimize tasks on PCs grows, AI PCs are becoming increasingly important.

Luna Lake is expected to be a groundbreaking mobile processor for AI PCs with AI performance that is more than three times better than the previous generation.

Intel’s next-generation processor will deliver the performance needed for the Copilot Plus experience, with over 40 NPU TOPS (tera operations per second).

In addition to improved NPU performance, Luna Lake can support over 60 GPU TOPS and 100 platform TOPS.

“The launch of Luna Lake will bring meaningful, fundamental improvements in security, battery life, and more, thanks to our close co-engineering partnership with Intel,” said Pavan Davuluri, corporate vice president, Windows + Devices at Microsoft. “We look forward to bringing Microsoft Co-Pilot+ experiences to market at scale with 40+ TOPS NPU performance when Luna Lake arrives.”

A comprehensive approach to AI requires a robust software support infrastructure alongside hardware innovation. As part of its AI PC Acceleration Program, Intel is working with more than 100 independent software vendors (ISVs) to enhance AI PC experiences for personal assistants, audio effects, content creation, gaming, security, streaming, video collaboration, and more.