AMD’s Ryzen 400 Series Pushes Local Compute at CES 2026
AMD has doubled down on the concept of "AI for everyone" at CES 2026, unveiling a new generation of silicon designed to shift artificial intelligence from cloud-based novelty to a local, integrated reality. Chair and CEO Dr. Lisa Su introduced the Ryzen AI 400 Series processors, framing them not just as faster chips, but as the engine for a fundamental shift in daily computing. Boasting 12 CPU cores and 24 threads, these processors are engineered to handle heavy local workloads, claiming performance metrics that are 1.3x faster in multitasking and 1.7x faster in content creation compared to competitors. This leap upgrades the 300 Series architecture announced in 2024, signaling AMD’s aggressive push to dominate the rapidly expanding AI PC market.
The strategy goes beyond raw speed it is about ubiquity. Rahul Tikoo, senior VP of AMD’s client business, described AI as becoming a "multi-layered fabric" woven into every aspect of personal computing. This vision is supported by AMD's expansion to over 250 AI PC platforms a twofold increase in just one year. By embedding deep reasoning and context-awareness directly into the hardware, AMD aims to transform the PC from a passive tool into an active partner that automates and personalizes user interactions without relying constantly on external servers.
For the gaming enthusiast, AMD simultaneously debuted the Ryzen 7 9850X3D, the latest iteration of its celebrated gaming-focused lineup. This hardware release is paired with the new Redstone ray tracing technology, which promises to simulate realistic light physics without the notorious performance penalties that usually plague high-fidelity rendering. Both the productivity-focused AI 400 Series and the gaming-centric 9850X3D are slated for release in the first quarter of 2026, setting the stage for a highly competitive year in the semiconductor space.