According to reports on September 28th from Kuaikeji， Intel has reportedly engaged in discussions not only with tech giant Apple but also with the leading foundry， TSMC. The discussions are centered around potential investments or the establishment of manufacturing partnerships.
Once the world’s largest semiconductor company， Intel is currently navigating a challenging period. CEO Pat Gelsinger is actively seeking investments and commitments to drive the company’s revival plan forward. This strategic initiative aims to secure the necessary capital and build crucial alliances to regain a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving semiconductor landscape.
Earlier this month， NVIDIA announced a $5 billion investment in Intel and a joint development partnership for PC and data center chips. This collaboration signifies a significant move towards shared innovation and resource pooling. In the preceding month， SoftBank had declared its intention to invest $2 billion in Intel， underscoring growing investor confidence in Intel’s turnaround strategy， albeit with a substantial commitment from a major player.
Apple， a former key client of Intel， transitioned away from using Intel processors in its Mac computers several years ago in favor of its own custom-designed chips. TSMC， on the other hand， is a formidable competitor to Intel in the foundry space. The potential involvement of both Apple and TSMC presents a complex dynamic， considering their individual relationships with Intel and their positions within the industry.
This is not the first time rumors of a collaboration between Intel and TSMC have surfaced. As early as April of this year， reports indicated that the two companies had explored the possibility of forming a joint venture， with TSMC reportedly planning to hold a 20% stake. Such a venture would likely focus on leveraging TSMC’s advanced manufacturing capabilities to support Intel’s chip production needs， potentially mitigating some of Intel’s historical foundry challenges.
Currently， all involved companies have declined to comment on these developments. The lack of official statements suggests that these discussions are in their early stages or are being handled with a high degree of confidentiality. The outcome of these potential partnerships could have a profound impact on the future trajectory of Intel and the broader semiconductor industry， influencing supply chains， technological advancements， and market competition.
