Intel and AMD may be exploring a new form of cooperation, although the companies have not disclosed the purpose, technology or commercial terms of the discussions. Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan said he had spoken with AMD CEO Lisa Su while outlining efforts to strengthen Intel’s processor business and manufacturing operations.
Several existing areas of cooperation could provide a basis for future work. In October 2024, Intel and AMD joined other technology companies in creating the x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group, an initiative focused on improving compatibility and supporting shared standards across x86 processors. The companies remain competitors in the processor market.
Their collaboration also extends to software and AI. AMD’s ZenDNN optimizations are being integrated into Intel’s open-source oneDNN library, which supports CPU-based PyTorch inference. The manufacturers have also worked on Advanced Matrix Extensions and other x86 capabilities.
Tan has said Intel needs to regain leadership in CPUs and is adapting its processors more closely to individual customer requirements. He described customized processors as a growing area for the company, alongside application-specific chips, advanced packaging, co-packaged optics and physical AI.
Intel’s foundry business is another possible area for cooperation, although there is no confirmation that AMD plans to manufacture chips through Intel Foundry. Tan said Intel’s 18A process had entered volume production, while development of the next-generation 14A process continued. Intel has released version 0.5 of the 14A process design kit and expects version 0.9 before version 1.0 becomes available for volume production in early 2027.
Two prospective customers were evaluating 14A test chips in January, with supplier decisions expected during the second half of 2026 and the first half of 2027. Tan also said several customers were interested in expanding through Intel’s manufacturing services, but he did not identify them or provide details about potential orders.
The CEO emphasized that customer confidence would be central to Intel’s foundry ambitions. He described one customer’s complaints about 15 areas in which Intel had fallen short, saying the company addressed the issues and subsequently secured an agreement to expand the relationship. That account does not establish that AMD will use Intel’s manufacturing technology, leaving the nature of any future cooperation between the two companies unresolved.
Sources: TechRadar.