Hua Er Jie Jian Wen·2026-01-06 08:40Core Insights - Intel officially launched its AI PC chip series based on the 18A process technology at CES, marking a significant milestone in the company's manufacturing revival and technological leadership [1] - The new Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors, the first products based on the Panther Lake architecture, will be available for pre-order on January 7 and globally launched on January 27 [1] - The performance of the new chips is reported to be up to 60% higher than the previous Lunar Lake Series 2 [1] Group 1: Technological Advancements - The 18A process technology integrates two key innovations, including the introduction of "full surround gate" technology for improved transistor switching control, which is crucial for reducing overall power consumption [2] - Intel has developed independent small chips for graphics processing that can be integrated with other functional chips using advanced packaging technology, allowing for more flexible and high-performance processor solutions [2] - A handheld gaming device platform based on the Panther Lake architecture is expected to be launched in 2025, with specific partners and product details to be announced later this year [2] Group 2: Strategic Business Moves - The market performance of the new products is critical for Intel's strategy to become a major global foundry, competing against TSMC and Samsung in the foundry industry [3] - Intel has outsourced some advanced process production to TSMC, indicating recognition of TSMC's current technological capabilities, while also attempting to bring high-end chip manufacturing back in-house [3] - Recent support from the U.S. government and significant investments from companies like Nvidia and SoftBank have contributed to a rebound in Intel's stock price [3] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - AMD is set to deliver a keynote at CES, where CEO Lisa Su is expected to unveil a new generation of PC chips aimed at AI computing and graphics processing [4] - AMD has announced a long-term partnership with OpenAI for the next-generation MI400 chip, which is projected to generate billions in revenue over the coming years [4] - Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang revealed that the next generation of Nvidia chips has entered full-scale production, achieving five times the computational performance of previous models for large language models and generative AI applications [5]