Intel will officially launch its Core Ultra Series 3 processors, code-named Panther Lake, at CES 2026 on January 5, with the chips built on Intel's advanced 18A manufacturing process and promising 50% faster CPU and GPU performance compared to the previous generation, while AMD CEO Lisa Su will deliver a competing keynote the same evening to unveil the company's Ryzen AI 400 series.
The competing launches come as AI PCs are projected by Gartner to represent 55% of the global PC market by the end of 2026, totaling approximately 143 million units, with 40% of software vendors expected to prioritize AI capabilities that run directly on PCs by then, up from just 2% in 2024.
Panther Lake represents a critical manufacturing milestone for Intel, featuring new RibbonFET transistors and PowerVia backside power delivery that deliver up to 15% better performance per watt, with production already underway at the company's Fab 52 facility in Chandler, Arizona.
