Intel's New 3rd Gen Xeon Scalable processors – the only x86 Data Center Processors with Built-In AI

Intel recently unveiled their bold new vision for their edge to cloud solutions, at a virtual launch event in India on the 16th of April. Their newly launched platform – the Intel 3rd Gen Xeon Scalable processors, code named “Ice Lake”, provide customers with an infrastructure optimized to leverage the power of AI, smoothen the application of new compute services and handle many more diverse functions. It comes with built-in AI capabilities which are optimized for a high-performance data center platform, to power the workloads on public cloud, private cloud or on-prem.

The launch was very eventful with sessions from key leaders of the company and significant names in the industry. I quite enjoyed listening to the senior leadership at Intel break down the key highlights of the product and the impact it could have on India and the world. The replay can be viewed here: https://www.intel.in/content/www/in/en/events/how-wonderful-gets-done/ai.html

Intel has made considerable improvements across the board compared to prior generations, including an average performance increase of 46% during common data center workloads. The new 3rd-Gen Intel Xeon processors use 10-nanometer process technology, allowing them to deliver up to 40 cores per processor and thus a significant gain in higher average performance.

Below are some of the key benefits that I feel Ice Lake would deliver to the consumer :

1. Built in AI acceleration: with the Intel Deep Learning Boost (built-in AI acceleration), customers will be able to attain new insights and fast decisions due to the increased AI performance as well as the flexibility to run other cloud and data center workloads. Their session on AI everywhere is an interesting take on how businesses can leverage Xeon to add intelligence everywhere. https://www.intel.in/content/www/in/en/events/how-wonderful-gets-done/ai.html
2. Power efficiency: particularly for 5G network and edge use cases, companies prioritize power efficiency. Customers can customize Xeon processors to their workload with granular control over processor frequency, core count, and power via Enhanced Intel Speed Select Technology (Intel SST).
3. Security: Businesses will be able to promise more protection to their clients - users can encrypt virtually all of their data (at-rest, in-flight, and in-use) through the company’s advanced security technologies such as Intel Software Guard Extensions (Intel SGX), Intel Crypto Acceleration, Intel Total Memory Encryption (Intel TME). This session throws light on how 3rd Gen Xeon will enable more security for workloads at the edge : https://www.intel.in/content/www/in/en/events/how-wonderful-gets-done/iot.html

On their “Digitally Inclusive” vision for India – Prakash Mallya, VP and MD, Sales Marketing and Communications Group, Intel India spoke about 5 key trends shaping technology growth in India – Cloud, HPC, AI, 5G, Edge and how Intel aims to have infrastructure that is flexible enough to support these workloads.

He spoke about different initiatives Intel has been undertaking with partners - ranging from AI innovation to pandemic response. One I found particularly interesting and impactful, was their AI solution in partnership with Leben Care and AWS – Netra.ai, created for early detection of diabetic retinopathy, and minimize vision loss in diabetic patients. https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/newsroom/news/ai-solution-helps-reduce-diabetic-vision-loss.html

Other key highlights included more examples of initiatives in education and COVID testing, partner sessions from companies like CDAC, Wipro, Jio etc and a session by Intel’s new CEO – Pat Gelsinger, outlining Intel’s vision for the future.

I am keenly looking forward to seeing how companies will further leverage the new data center platform, and its possible impact in India.