Intel envisions AI and ML instruction sets in its future processors. This is intended to further promote the popularity of such workloads, even if the AVX-512 is reserved for more expensive professional chips.

Intel will provide Arrow Lake and Lunar Lake with support for various instruction sets related to AI and machine learning. This makes it possible to run code for such workloads particularly efficiently. Specifically, Intel plans to integrate AVX-VNNI-INT16, SHA512, SM3 and SM4. For example, AVX-VNNI allows the CPU to more efficiently process instructions related to neural networks.

AI in the CPU

When it comes to AI in CPUs, Intel still has a little catching up to do. With the release of the Ryzen Pro 7040 Mobile, AMD began incorporating an AI component into its CPUs. It will speed up the AI ​​workload. To this end, AMD is working with Microsoft, among others, with the aim of making various video tasks such as background blurring more efficient. Intel wants its chips to have these capabilities, and introducing appropriate instruction sets is part of that goal.

Surprisingly, AVX-512 remains the biggest absentee. With Alder Lake, Intel dropped support for it, although Intel was the originator of the instruction set. However, for several years now the manufacturer has stopped offering compatibility only for more expensive chips for workstations, meaning that customers have to pay a surcharge for it.