Intel's Next CPU
I’m a bit sad and nostalgic for the Intel of yore. They were once a great company now fallen on bitter times. Mr. Gelsinger’s bold move to reintroduce the foundry has not generated the expected results.
Remember when Steve Jobs came back to Apple in 1997? Apple had 50m left in their bank account, if memory serves, and they weren’t sure if they could make it to Christmas.
So here we are in 2024 and I fear Intel faces a similar fate. I can’t possibly imagine that anyone in their right mind would allow this pillar of Silicon Valley to enter bankruptcy. Gordon Moore and Robert Noyce previously worked at Fairchild Semiconductor, which peaked in the mid 1960s, but Intel’s cofounders could see their best days were behind them.
Now a team of four experienced engineers from the Advanced Architecture Development Group have left to form AheadComputing Inc. to work on chip designs utilizing the RISC-V architecture. Intel just had a massive layout, so perhaps they wish to avoid a similar fate.
So is it too late for Intel? Not necessarily, but it will require new leadership that would be willing to abandon the x86 architecture. So here would be my plan:
- Intel should acquire Tenstorrent and make Jim Keller the new CEO of a reinvigorated Intel.
- A full audit of the company ranks should immediately follow. Jim will decide who stays and who leaves.
- Intel’s culture immediately shifts to a startup of the incubator variety. Under Keller’s leadership, Intel jettisons x86 and replaces it with RISC-V. Perhaps jettison is too strong a word. It still generates signficant revenue and it will take time to introduce a new 2nm chip. So a strategic transition might make sense to ensure that the company has continuing revenue.
- Intel must now embrace open-source, even though that goes against their DNA.
Intel still has deep experience in a number of areas. Leverage this expertise and match it with Keller’s vision to make it happen. The politics might be difficult, but when it comes to the company’s survival, a good leader can quiet the room and rally the troops forward.
On the other hand, Jim might say no. Sighing. That would be a pitiful shame, but not the final word on their future. Expand your search to find a Joan of Arc willing to lead the crusade forward. And hopefully won’t be burned at the stake for succeeding.
