Intel Corporation has launched its next generation of AI-powered personal computers at CES 2026, reinforcing its push to reclaim leadership in the PC and semiconductor markets amid intensifying competition from rivals and growing demand for on-device artificial intelligence.
The announcement, made ahead of Intel’s main CES presentations, helped lift the company’s stock in early trading, with investors reacting positively to signs of renewed momentum in Intel’s client computing strategy, according to market data.
The new AI PC lineup is built around Intel’s latest processors, which integrate central processing units (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), and dedicated neural processing units (NPUs) on a single chip. This architecture is designed to enable AI workloads, such as real-time language translation, image generation, content summarisation and advanced security features, to run directly on devices without relying heavily on cloud servers.
Intel executives said the new chips deliver significant improvements in performance per watt, battery efficiency and AI throughput, targeting both consumer laptops and enterprise-grade machines. The company is positioning AI PCs as the next major upgrade cycle for the global PC market, following several years of muted demand after the pandemic-driven surge.
“The PC is entering a new era,” Intel said in a statement released around the CES launch, adding that AI capabilities embedded at the hardware level will fundamentally change how users work, create and collaborate.
The move comes as Intel faces stiff competition from rivals including AMD, which has also rolled out AI-focused processors, and chipmakers building on Arm-based designs that have gained traction in premium laptops. Microsoft, meanwhile, has been promoting its vision of “Copilot+ PCs,” making AI acceleration a key requirement for next-generation Windows devices, a shift that has raised the stakes for chip manufacturers.
Analysts say Intel’s CES 2026 announcement is as much about restoring confidence as it is about technology. The company has struggled in recent years with manufacturing delays and market share losses, but has since embarked on a broad turnaround strategy involving new leadership, heavy capital investment and a renewed focus on execution.
By showcasing AI PCs at one of the world’s biggest consumer technology events, Intel is signalling its intent to remain central to the PC ecosystem as AI becomes a standard feature rather than a premium add-on.
Shares of Intel rose modestly ahead of the CES unveiling, reflecting cautious optimism that AI-driven PCs could spark a fresh replacement cycle and stabilise revenues in Intel’s core client computing business.
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