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The AI PC story is picking up speed, with global semiconductor revenue expected to top $1 trillion for the first time in 2026. This jump is driven mostly by strong AI demand, with the Computing & Data Storage segment alone forecast to grow 41.4% year-over-year (YOY) and pass $500 billion. On top of that, Gartner expects worldwide AI spending to hit $2.59 trillion in 2026, a 47% increase from the prior year.
Intel (INTC) does not want to be left behind in that kind of market. It is pushing major PC makers in the U.S., China, and Taiwan to move to its most advanced 18A-process chips, including the Panther Lake and Wildcat Lake platforms, as demand for top-tier processors starts to run ahead of supply on the best manufacturing nodes.
