AI Wars: Intel and AMD join hands together to end Nvidia's dominance

Over the years, NVIDIA has established itself as the most preferred GPU maker in the world. GPU units, which were originally created for video games, are now increasingly being used for many artificial-intelligence (AI) projects. NVIDIA has been the dominant player in this segment for now, while other chipmakers are still catching up, going so far as to partner with companies that had been their bitter rivals for years.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Intel and AMD, two of the biggest chipmakers in the world, are working together on a new laptop chip meant to challenge NVIDIA’s dominance. The chip will use an Intel processor and an AMD graphics unit and is designed to be “thin and lightweight but powerful enough to run high-end video games.” And if it’s good enough for video games, it’s likely to be good enough for many AI applications.

“It’s a prime example of hardware and software innovations intersecting to create something amazing that fills a unique market gap. Helping to deliver on our vision for this new class of product, we worked with the team at AMD’s Radeon Technologies Group. In close collaboration, we designed a new semi-custom graphics chip, which means this is also a great example of how we can compete and work together, ultimately delivering innovation that is good for consumers.” Intel said in a statement on their blog.

Laptops built with the new chips won’t be cannibalising AMD’s Ryzen chips, which are also designed for ultra-thin laptops and are due by end of this year. AMD specified that these new Intel chips will be aimed at serious gamers, whereas Ryzen chips can run games, but aren’t specifically designed for that purpose.

This is not Intel’s first effort to take on Nvidia. Intel bought Nervana, Movidius, and Mobileye in the last two years to expand its artificial-intelligence expertise. In September, the company revealed a neuromorphic chip, a new type of chip technology that is based on the human brain. It’s largely untested, but Intel is hoping to validate the neuromorphic approach by working with universities and research institutions on a product that could launch sometime next year.

Intel has made a lot of money while becoming the dominant chipmaker for computers in the past century, but if they can become the chief hardware provider for the artificial-intelligence solutions then not only it will bring in a plethora of money, but a sustained dominance for years to come.