At the Intel Vision conference in Las Vegas on April 1, 2025, Intel executives unveiled their plans for a new processor called Panther Lake, which is set to become a key product for the company. This chip, the first developed using the advanced 18A process, combines the energy efficiency of Lunar Lake with the performance of Arrow Lake. Jim Johnson, Senior Vice President of the Client Computing Group, described Panther Lake as a “dream hybrid” capable of scaling for diverse tasks, with production slated to begin in the second half of 2025.
Panther Lake isn’t just another processor. It marks the successful conclusion of Intel’s ambitious “five nodes in four years” strategy, with 18A being the most advanced node using technologies like RibbonFET (a new type of transistor) and PowerVia (backside power delivery). These innovations are expected to enhance efficiency and reduce power consumption. CEO Lip-Bu Tan also noted that following Panther Lake, the Nova Lake processor is planned for release in 2026.
The company is focusing on artificial intelligence, viewing it as a primary driver for PCs. Executives believe that Panther Lake will serve as the foundation for “AI PCs”—computers capable of handling complex AI tasks directly on the device.
