Summary
AMD and Intel plan to bring their x86 CPU optimisation work for PyTorch together in the open-source oneDNN library. AMD says it is integrating its ZenDNN optimisations, while support for a new x86 instruction set is planned for future updates.
AMD and Intel announced on October 20, 2026, that they plan to combine their x86 CPU optimisation work for PyTorch in oneDNN, an open-source deep learning library. The companies have aligned on oneDNN as the default open-source library for x86 acceleration within PyTorch, following a recommendation from the x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group.
AMD says it is integrating its ZenDNN optimisations into oneDNN while continuing to optimise for AMD processors. The collaboration is intended to give developers a common software route for AI workloads across AMD and Intel CPUs.
A shared route for PyTorch on x86 CPUs
PyTorch is a framework for developing and running AI software. oneDNN provides software optimisations that help AI workloads run efficiently on CPUs. Bringing the companies’ PyTorch-related optimisation work together in that library is intended to reduce the need for developers to manage separate software paths across x86 processors.
That common route could make applications easier to build, maintain and deploy across the x86 ecosystem, the companies say. The announcement sets out the direction of the work; AMD’s ZenDNN integration is described as in progress.
AMD has also joined the Unified Acceleration Foundation (UXL) as a steering member. oneDNN is governed by the foundation, which provides an open-source setting for the collaboration.
AI Compute Extensions are planned for later updates
AMD and Intel are also working on AI Compute Extensions (ACE), a next-generation instruction set architecture for x86. An instruction set defines operations a processor can execute. ACE is designed to accelerate matrix multiplication, a core mathematical operation in AI workloads.
The companies plan to integrate ACE into PyTorch through future oneDNN updates. This is a separate, forward-looking part of the announcement: the software path is being consolidated around oneDNN, while ACE support is intended for later updates.