Intel has announced two new artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives, which will be integral elements of the AI PC Acceleration Program. Knitting together the AI PC Developer Program and incorporating independent hardware vendors into the roster, these pivotal moves are part of Intel's strategy to enable the software and hardware ecosystem to optimise and scale AI capabilities across more than 100 million Intel-based AI PCs by 2025.

Intel's vice president and general manager of Client Software Ecosystem Enabling, Carla Rodriguez, expressed the company's determination to provide a seamless experience across their platform. "We have made great strides with our AI PC Acceleration Program by working with the ecosystem. Today, with the addition of the AI PC Developer Program, we are expanding our reach to engage with not only large ISVs, but also small and medium-sized players and aspiring developers. Our goal is to drive a frictionless experience by offering a broad set of tools including the new AI-ready Developer Kit," said Rodriguez.

The AI PC Developer Program is specifically devised for software developers and independent software vendors (ISVs), furnishing a smooth developer interface and providing scalability to embrace new AI technologies. It grants access to tools, workflows and AI-deployment frameworks, along with developer kits featuring the latest Intel hardware related to the Intel Core™ Ultra processor. Updated developer resource pages provide a single-source hub for toolkits, documentation, and training resources aimed at helping developers optimise application performance with the Intel Core Ultra processor, maximise AI and machine learning (ML) application performance, and expedite new use cases.

Integrating independent hardware vendors (IHV) into the AI PC Acceleration Program offers them the opportunity to prepare and optimise their own hardware for Intel AI PCs. Qualified partners are afforded access to Intel’s Open Labs and the co-engineering support therein during the early development phases of their hardware solutions and platforms. Moreover, through this program, Intel furnishes reference hardware to enable qualified IHV partners to test and optimise their technology for maximum efficiency at launch.

Matt King, senior director of Client Hardware Ecosystem at Intel, highlighted the ongoing expansion of the program. "Intel has already onboarded 150 hardware vendors globally into our AI PC Accelerator Program. We're excited to scale our innovative hardware and software solutions and bring this momentum to our broad, open ecosystem of developers," he said.

Collaborations with other sectors promise profound benefits to end users in terms of performance, productivity, innovation, and creativity. Intel is leading advancements in the AI PC era, empowering ISVs and IHVs, and delivering enhanced value to developers. Access to the latest Intel Core Ultra developer kits, optimisation tools, and software, the opportunities for enhanced compatibility, performance optimisation, and expansive market opportunities at a global scale represent some such values. The company plans to introduce over 300 AI-accelerated features by 2024 through Intel Core Ultra processors across 230 designs from 12 global original equipment manufacturers.