The AI revolution of Intel processors: faster, more powerful and smarter

Are we predicting the birth of "Baby Skynet"? One can only hope. Intel announced the launch of the Intel Core Ultra 200V processor series, ("Lunar Lake") which brings with it a significant leap forward in artificial intelligence capabilities.

These processors represent the most efficient x86 processor family that Intel has ever produced. The new processors will arrive in more than 80 new computer models from leading manufacturers as of September 24 and feature 50% lower power consumption compared to the previous generation. This means that users will be able to enjoy a battery life of 11 hours or more in daily use, with some models even reaching 17 hours, and up to 20 hours in local video playback.

The new processors can perform 120 trillion operations per second (120 TOPS), thanks to the combination of three components: the main processor, the graphics card (GPU), and a special unit for NPU (artificial intelligence). Because of this, computers with Lunar Lake can run more than 300 new AI applications, which were not possible on previous generation computers.

The special processing unit for artificial intelligence (NPU) is 4 times more powerful than the previous generation. This unit can perform up to 48 trillion operations per second, allowing the computer to perform AI tasks faster. 

In practice, users who purchase computers with Intel Core Ultra 200V series, Lunar Lake processors, will experience the improvements in a variety of areas. For example, in video editing, the processor will be able to automatically detect scene changes, which will allow faster and more efficient editing. Content creators will be able to create digital art using simple text commands, opening up new possibilities for creativity. In the field of security, the processor can detect deep fakes in online video, and help users defend themselves against fraud and false information. And it is important to note that everything is local on the laptop, without the need for restrictive software in the cloud. 

The new processors present an architecture that includes new performance cores (P-cores) of the Lion Cove type and improved efficiency cores (E-cores) of the Skymont type. This combination enables higher performance with low power consumption. 

There is also good news here for casual gamers, those who like to play but will not necessarily buy the most powerful machine for the strongest graphic performance. The new processors include new built-in graphics based on the Xe2 architecture. The new graphics provide 50% better performance compared to the previous generation processors, with up to 80% improvement in game performance. It includes improved ray tracing support and advanced AI capabilities, enabling a better gaming experience and improved performance in demanding graphics applications. 

The graphics include improved Ray Tracing support and advanced AI capabilities. Users will enjoy a better gaming experience and improved performance in graphically demanding applications. During the demo, we were presented with a number of particularly demanding games, which run smoothly on the computers with the new processor. One of them was Cyberpunk, another game was F1, which we reviewed very recently, and the results were absolutely impressive during the presentation.

It is important to note that while Intel presents the hardware, its many collaborations in the market with computer manufacturers and software manufacturers provide a host of options for content creators, including anyone who works with computers for a living. Integrating AI software such as Microsoft's Copylite Plus, or various editing software, will give users a cleaner AI experience and will likely help those manufacturers improve their products with feedback and reuse.

The new processors also support Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, allowing speeds of up to 11 GB per second, 2 times that of the previous generation. In addition, they support Thunderbolt Share technology for fast connection to multiple monitors and file transfer. This means faster internet browsing and a more stable connection to wireless devices.

In addition, they include a new security engine, Intel Partner Security Engine, which provides improved protection against cyber threats.

Michelle Johnston Holthouse, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Customer Computing Group at Intel, explains: "The new processors from the Intel Core Ultra series set a new standard for AI and graphics performance in mobile computers. They allow us to provide consumers with an uncompromising AI computing experience, with breakthrough energy efficiency."

Zohar Seba, Vice President (VP) of Intel's Client Computing Group and Project Manager of Lunar-Lake and Panther-Lake reveals insights from the development process: "About three years ago, we recognized the enormous potential of AI in personal computers. We decided to invest In developing a strong AI engine, although at the time it was not clear how it would be used, today we see that it was a right bet.

"The Lunar Lake project is led by Israel from start to finish," explains Tseb. "The Israeli team is responsible for all the critical steps - defining the product, developing the concept, planning the architecture, design, and execution. The entire project included many hundreds of engineers and professionals, who worked on the development of this processor, who brought with them rich experience in designing advanced processors and the ability to think 'outside the box', which allowed us to develop a processor with advanced AI capabilities even before the market realized the need for them."

It is difficult to know today whether the first processor with built-in AI is the beginning of the robotic revolution we have been waiting for (at least I), but the entry of AI into the personal computer, into the private space and without limitations or conditions, alongside the massive improvements that artificial intelligence produces for hardware and software manufacturers, it is definitely one A step in the right direction.   

All PCs with Intel Core Ultra 200V processors running the latest version of Windows will be eligible to receive the Copilot+ PC features as a free update starting in November. PCs based on Intel Core Ultra 200V processors will be available for pre-order starting September 3rd, with full availability in stores and online starting September 24th. The prices will be published by the various manufacturers.

The reporter was a guest of Intel at the event