AMD and Intel Collaborate to Simplify AI Development on x86 CPUs Using PyTorch

A common software path simplifies how developers build and optimize PyTorch applications across AMD and Intel CPUs.

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What’s New: AMD and Intel are collaborating to combine their x86 CPU optimization work for PyTorch in oneDNN, an open-source deep learning library governed by the Unified Acceleration Foundation (UXL) that helps AI workloads run efficiently on CPUs. The collaboration gives developers a common software path for optimized AI workloads across AMD and Intel CPUs, reducing fragmentation in the x86 AI ecosystem and making PyTorch applications easier to build, maintain and deploy across x86 systems.

Following a recommendation from the x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group, AMD and Intel have aligned on oneDNN as the default open-source library for x86 acceleration within PyTorch. AMD is integrating its ZenDNN optimizations into oneDNN and has joined the UXL Foundation as a Steering Member to further advance this work through open collaboration.

Why It Matters: Developers will have one place to access CPU optimizations for PyTorch across AMD and Intel processors, providing a more consistent development experience across x86 platforms. Joint investment in oneDNN reduces software fragmentation and accelerates support for current and future x86 AI capabilities.

The companies are also collaborating on AI Compute Extensions, a next-generation instruction set architecture for x86 designed to accelerate matrix multiplication, with future support planned for integration within PyTorch through oneDNN updates.

“Developers shouldn’t have to think about separate software paths to get the best from an x86 CPU. Working with AMD through oneDNN gives the PyTorch community a consistent approach for modern processors and a way to bring future capabilities, including AI Compute Extensions, into the framework.”

— Jeff McVeigh, vice president and general manager, Data Center Strategic Programs, Intel

“AMD is advancing an open software ecosystem that gives developers greater choice and makes it easier to build high-performance AI applications. By working with the x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group, we’re bringing the industry together around common technologies that simplify development across x86 processors."

— Robert Hormuth, corporate vice president, Architecture and Strategy, AMD

“Open source innovation thrives when the developer and operational experience is seamless and unified. AMD and Intel coming together to standardize x86 CPU optimizations through oneDNN in PyTorch is a major step forward in eliminating ecosystem fragmentation. As a member of the PyTorch community, Red Hat is excited to see this level of open collaboration, which will make it significantly easier for developers to build, optimize, and deploy AI workloads consistently across x86 architectures.”

— Stephen Watt, vice president, Office of the Chief Technology Officer, and distinguished engineer, Red Hat; PyTorch ambassador

Supporting Resources: For more information, please see the x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group site here.