AMD launched its new lineup of AI-focused PC processors at CES 2026. With these new chips, the company is reinforcing that artificial intelligence will soon be a standard part of everyday personal computing. The announcement came during AMD’s keynote, led by Chair and CEO Lisa Su, who framed the launch around a simple idea: AI should be accessible to everyone, not limited to data centers or high-end systems.
AMD’s latest generation of AI-powered PC processors includes the new Ryzen AI 400 Series. These chips are designed for general users who want faster and more capable on-device AI, without relying heavily on the cloud. According to the company, the new processors deliver up to 1.3 times faster multitasking compared to rivals, along with 1.7 times faster performance in content creation workloads.
The Ryzen AI 400 Series comes with up to 12 CPU cores and 24 threads, marking a clear step up from the Ryzen AI 300 Series that AMD launched in 2024. The company has been building the Ryzen brand since 2017, but the focus has now moved beyond raw CPU power to how much AI work can be handled directly on the device.
With AI performance reaching up to 60 TOPS, these processors are built to support features like live captions, real-time translation, photo and video enhancements, and smarter assistants running locally on systems with as little as 16GB of memory. AMD says this approach brings practical benefits for everyday users.
Interestingly, tasks that earlier depended on the internet can now run faster and with lower latency on devices. The new chips will also improve the battery life thanks to the use of Zen 5 and Zen 5c hybrid cores built on a 4nm process.
When it comes to real-world situations, AMD is claiming full-day or even multi-day usage for common workloads, including up to 24 hours of video playback, which makes these chips especially appealing for students and professionals who are constantly on the move.
The company now supports more than 250 AI PC platforms, which is double the number from last year. He described AI as something that will be embedded across every layer of personal computing, shaping how people work, create, and interact with their devices. According to Tikoo, AI on PCs is no longer about a few headline features, but about thousands of small interactions that become more personal and context-aware over time.
Rahul Tikoo, senior vice president and general manager of AMD’s client business,
However, it’s not going to be an easy walk for AMD, as the company is entering an increasingly crowded AI PC market. Intel is pushing its Core Ultra 200V series with a strong focus on efficiency and single-thread performance, while Qualcomm continues to gain attention with Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus chips that prioritize battery life on Arm-based Windows PCs. Apple, on the other hand, is already there with its latest M-series chips.
Though AMD’s advantage is in bringing high AI performance to x86-based Windows PCs without forcing users to change platforms. However, for general users, this means more AI features running locally, better responsiveness, and potentially lower long-term costs by reducing dependence on cloud-based processing.
That’s all about AMD for now, but as CES 2026 continues, we’ll keep tracking all the developments in the AI hardware space. So stay tuned.
