Intel Bets Recovery on Panther Lake AI Chip Amid Foundry Losses

Intel unveiled its Panther Lake processor architecture, marking a pivotal shift in its strategy to reclaim dominance in the AI-powered PC market. The Core Ultra Series 3 chips, built on the 18A manufacturing process, will debut in 2025 with advanced RibbonFET and PowerVia technology. Shipments from Fab 52 in Arizona are slated for late 2025, with full availability by January 2026.

The announcement comes as Intel's foundry division reports staggering losses—$3.2 billion in Q2 2025—while rivals like AMD gain market share. AMD now holds 32% of desktop CPU sales and nearly 40% of revenue, compounded by its OpenAI GPU partnership. Meanwhile, Apple Silicon and Qualcomm's PC chips intensify competitive pressures.

CEO Lip-Bu Tan framed the Panther Lake rollout as both a technological leap and a geopolitical statement, emphasizing Intel's commitment to U.S.-based R&D and manufacturing. "The United States has always been home to Intel’s most advanced innovation," Tan declared, positioning the MOVE as a rebuttal to global supply chain vulnerabilities.