You know, sometimes tech news hits ya like a bolt of lightning. Like, Intel Foundry and this whole “18A process” thingy — feels like their grand iPhone moment, doesn’t it? Apparently, folks are buzzing about it. Big tech names in the game, too.
Anyway, Intel’s been hustling hard, hoping for a jackpot. Not just for the bucks, but to pull the limelight away from TSMC. Honestly, ever since TSMC got cozy with Trump, building all over the US — folks started seeing them as a solid alternative to Taiwan. Oh, where was I? Right. Intel’s 18A. The Korean media, ChosunBiz, claims they’re chatting up NVIDIA, Microsoft, Google. I mean, this could shake things up, like being a solid plan B to TSMC’s N2 process.
When Intel showed off the 18A at that Direct Connect 2025 shindig, they called it the “most advanced process made in the US.” (Bold, huh?). It’s supposed to rival TSMC’s N2 — similar tech specs, but generationally superior to Intel 3. So, guess what? Clients are eating it up. Like, seriously vibing with it.
Here’s a pic of something related — but don’t ask me to explain it, I just thought it looked interesting.
But why the hype? Leadership shakeup, folks! New CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, is all about innovation — design automation, packaging, foundry. Word on the street is he might chuck the so-called “IDM 2.0” strategy (whatever that means) and watch Intel bloom, especially with CPUs.
Another thing — TSMC’s workstations are jam-packed, leaving companies itching for new options. Intel’s looking pretty ready to tag in against TSMC’s 2nm node. Samsung Foundry’s trying, but not quite catching up yet.
So, yeah, pretty wild stuff.
