At CES 2026, AMD Showed How AI Is Moving from the Edge to the PC

Hanen Bdioui

12 January 2026 5 mins to read

One thing that AMD emphasized very clearly during the CES 2026 demonstration is that AI is not just the domain of data centers and enterprise-class servers. Today, companies integrate AI into a wide range of systems, from cars and factories to computing platforms such as laptops and desktops.

At the event, AMD showcased their new Ryzen™ AI Embedded processors, their Ryzen™ AI 400 Series for AI PCs, their Ryzen™ AI Max+ processors, and software upgrades in a comprehensive showcase of what is happening in the world of on-device artificial intelligence.

Instead of emphasizing their offerings in one category of product, AMD demonstrated how their common CPU, GPU, and NPU technology platform can be scaled from embedded edge devices to high-performance personal computers.

Embedded AI Designed for Real-World Systems

AMD added the Ryzen™ AI Embedded P100 and X100 Series, an architecture meant for applications in which available space, power, and reliability are considered as important as performance. These chips come together in one package featuring Zen 5 CPU cores, RDNA™ 3.5 graphics, and XDNA 2 NPUs.

This strategy focuses on real-world applications like in-vehicle digital cockpit solutions, industrial automation, smart healthcare devices, and autonomous systems. These solutions will enable faster operations and will not rely on cloud connectivities since they involve running AI solutions on devices.

AMD Ryzen AI Embedded

A Strong Focus on Automotive and Industrial Use

The P100 Series comes with 4 to 6 CPU cores and is definitely marketed for in-car solutions and industrial HMI applications. The processor is capable of multiple high-resolution display support, smooth real-time graphics rendering, and AI interaction.

That is what remains impressive: a balance between strong graphics capabilities and a high level of AI TOPS at up to 50, combined with long-term support for operation under harsh environmental conditions. All this makes this solution suitable for automotive and industrial segments with a focus on reliability.

Software That Simplifies Embedded Development

Technologically, AMD focused on openness and coherence. With Ryzen AI Embedded, there is a common software foundation for CPUs, Graphics, and NPUs. This assists developers in having a simplified workflow.

“Virtualization based on the Xen hypervisor enables the operation of several operating systems in parallel in a safe manner. Real-time control systems, infotainment systems, and complex applications run in parallel on a single platform. Meanwhile, the demand for this kind of platform arises from the automobile and the industry sector. “

AI PCs Become More Mainstream with Ryzen AI 400

For client systems, AMD expanded its AI PC portfolio with the Ryzen™ AI 400 Series and Ryzen™ AI PRO 400 Series: these processors bring on-device AI acceleration to both consumer and business laptops, delivering performance beyond current Copilot+ PC requirements across the lineup.

Built on the Zen 5 architecture and powered by newly improved second-generation XDNA™ 2 NPUs, these processors combine strong CPU performance, capable integrated graphics, and improved power efficiency. For enterprise users, the PRO variants add in security, manageability, and platform stability without limiting AI features.

Ryzen AI 400 Series

High Performance AI in Thin and Compact Systems

AMD launched the Ryzen™ AI Max+ Series to appeal to users who wanted more performance within a tight envelope. These processors offer ultra-thin laptops, mobile workstations, and small form-factor PCs with a unified memory architecture that equally benefits graphics and AI workloads.

This makes the platform especially interesting for creators, engineers, and AI developers looking for robust local performance without large desktop systems or discrete GPUs.

AMD Ryzen™ AI Max Series

Ryzen AI Halo: A Practical Tool for AI Developers

AMD also introduced Ryzen™ AI Halo, a compact developer-focused system designed for greater accessibility of AI development. It offers up to 128GB of unified memory, helps unlock large AI models running locally, and makes the platform ready to use for experimentation and deployment.

By shipping fully optimized for AMD ROCm™ software and supporting both Windows and Linux, Ryzen AI Halo presents a low barrier for developers who want to work with AI at the edge, with no complex setup required.

Gaming Still Matters and AMD Is Pushing Hard

Gaming continues to be an important strength for AMD. The new Ryzen 7 9850X3D processor leverages the success of its predecessors in the X3D product lines, with an emphasis on low latency and high frame rates using large caches and Zen 5 architecture.

As a result, this processor targets users who demand top-tier gaming performance. At the same time, it supports streaming and multitasking without compromise.

AMD Ryzen™ 7 9850X3D Desktop Processor

Software Ties It All Together

Across all of these platforms, software plays a central role. To support this effort, AMD has extended ROCm™ compatibility for Ryzen AI processors on both Windows and Linux. As a result, developers can more easily build, optimize, and deploy AI software.

In addition, the new Adrenalin Edition AI Bundle simplifies local AI setup. Meanwhile, FSR “Redstone” introduces machine-learning enhancements that improve rendering quality and gaming performance.

A Clear Direction for On-Device AI

At CES 2026, AMD outlined a clear strategy: bring AI closer to users, simplify systems, and support developers with open, scalable tools.

Across embedded systems, autonomous machines, AI PCs, workstations, and gaming rigs, AMD is delivering an efficient, production-ready on-device AI ecosystem.

Source: AMD official CES 2026 announcements.

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Hanen Bdioui

Sales Development Representative at ChampionXperience

Hanen Bdioui is the Editor-in-Chief at ChampionXperience, where she leads content on CAD, VR, and emerging engineering technologies. She works with Dassault Systèmes as a Content Creator and SOLIDWORKS Application Engineer, and contributes as a technical writer for Engineering.com and EngineeRules, covering topics in CAD, PLM, and simulation. Hanen also creates specialized content for 3DEXCITE, the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, and Onshape, supporting engineers and companies in adopting modern digital workflows.