Intel on Wednesday detailed its plans to create the first systems foundry for the artificial intelligence era. The chipmaker also added Microsoft as a foundry customer for its most advanced chip manufacturing technology. But Intel stock fell on Wednesday.
At a customer event in San Jose, Calif., Intel Chief Executive Pat Gelsinger introduced key ecosystem partners for the company's Intel Foundry initiative. Those partners include Cadence Design Systems, Siemens, Synopsys and Ansys, which Synopsys is acquiring.
Those companies will provide design tools and intellectual property portfolios for Intel Foundry customers to build their computing systems.
"AI is profoundly transforming the world and how we think about technology and the silicon that powers it," Gelsinger said in a news release.
"This is creating an unprecedented opportunity for the world's most innovative chip designers and for Intel Foundry, the world's first systems foundry for the AI era. Together, we can create new markets and revolutionize how the world uses technology to improve people's lives."
Intel set a goal to become the No. 2 foundry by 2030. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing is the leader in the contract chipmaking business today.
Intel Stock Dips After News
Including the Microsoft contract, Intel has now secured $15 billion in deal value for its foundry business, Gelsinger said.
Microsoft said it will use Intel 18A process technology for a new chip to be produced later this year. With 18A, Intel will complete its goal of advancing through five nodes in four years, Gelsinger said.
But Intel expects to keep up its rapid pace of development, Gelsinger said. The company said it will take a leadership position in the industry later this decade with its 14A technology, with nodes measuring 1.4 nanometers, he said. Circuit widths on chips are measured in nanometers, which are one-billionth of a meter.
On the stock market today, Intel stock fell 2.4% to close at 43.47.
Investors likely were disappointed that Intel didn't announce any federal government funding from the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act. But that announcement is coming, Gelsinger promised.
Intel's foundry business includes advanced packaging for chips as well as the semiconductors themselves, he said.
In other news, Intel unveiled a collaboration with Arm Holdings to provide foundry services for startups producing Arm-based system-on-chips. The collaboration will provide emerging businesses with technology and manufacturing support as well as financial assistance.
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