AMD Unveils Ryzen PRO 8040/8000 Series AI Chips

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), a prominent chip design company based in the United States, has unveiled its latest processor designed to power Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled PCs. The move is positioned to assert dominance in the competitive landscape of AI PC technology, where AMD aims to rival industry giants such as Nvidia and Intel.

AI PCs, featuring processors capable of executing complex AI tasks like real-time language translation and summarization, are at the forefront of technological innovation.

AMD asserts that its newest chip represents a significant leap in commercial PC performance. The Ryzen PRO 8040 series targets business laptops and mobile workstations, while the AMD Ryzen PRO 8000 series caters to the needs of enterprise users requiring desktop processors.

According to AMD's press release, these processors are slated to support PC models from leading brands like HP and Lenovo starting from the second quarter of 2024.

These cutting-edge AMD chips will vie for market share against counterparts developed by Nvidia and Intel, both of which have staked claims in the AI PC segment.

Similar to Nvidia, AMD opts for outsourcing chip manufacturing to top-tier semiconductor foundries, primarily Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), known for its industry-leading fabrication processes. TSMC is currently ramping up production of 3nm chips and plans to commence mass production of 2nm chips by 2025.

In January, AMD introduced the next-generation Ryzen 8000G series desktop processors, emphasizing robust performance tailored for demanding workloads such as gaming and content creation. The 8000G series is fabricated using a cutting-edge 4nm process.

AMD, along with Intel, recognizes AI PCs as the dawn of a new era in computing. Since the debut of ChatGPT in November 2022, the AI landscape has witnessed exponential growth.

Nvidia launched a new GPU in early January optimized for running generative AI applications on PCs, set to feature in products from industry stalwarts like Acer, Dell, and Lenovo.

Meanwhile, Intel rolled out the Core Ultra chip in December, boasting AI capabilities for PC usage. These processors are slated for integration into AI PCs offered by Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo.

Industry experts, including the US consulting firm Gartner, project that AI PCs will account for 22% of all PC shipments by 2024.