New Intel CEO to execute predecessor's strategy better, maybe

Reuters has an exclusive on the incoming Intel CEO's plans to cut middle management and focus on AI. You don't say? What else?

"Revamping the company's manufacturing operations, which at one time only made chips for Intel but have been repurposed to make semiconductors for outside clients such as Nvidia." That was the last guy's plan: the "centerpiece of [ex-CEO] Gelsinger's turnaround plan was to transform Intel into a contract chip manufacturer.

One might say the die cast: "At the outset, Tan's strategy appears to be a fine-tuning of that of Gelsinger." Gelsdinger launched and largely executed Intel's five-nodes-in-four-years strategy, culminating in so-called Intel 18A. Intel has officially announced that its 18A process is now ready for customer projects, with tape-outs scheduled to begin in the first half of 2025. 18A should find its way into Intel's own Panther Lake and server-focused Clearwater Forest CPUs.

Not coincidentally, the Verge just called AMD's Ryzen 9 "the best CPU for both gaming and creator tasks" over Intel's Core Ultra 9 285K. Meanwhile, Windows on ARM finally works; it's been my semidaily driver for nearly a year.

Samsung has been struggling with yields on its competing chips, including rumors it has canceled its move to 1.4nm manufacturing.