Intel is poaching – or at least trying to poach – South Korean chip design firms that currently use Samsung's fabs, according to a report from Digitimes. It appears that Intel is motivated by its drive to become the world's second-largest chip manufacturer, a title that Samsung currently holds. Though Intel seems to be closer to the cutting-edge, Samsung has strong ties to its partners and customers, making it unclear if Intel can make a dent in the South Korean market.
Since 2022, Intel has made it clear that it wants its Foundry Services to become the second-biggest semiconductor manufacturer in the world. TSMC is in first place, and given how much business it does with the wider industry, it's understandable that Intel doesn't have ambitions to become #1 (at least for now). However, second place is more feasible for Intel, and to do that the company will need to beat Samsung, which has sat behind TSMC in revenue for many years.
