Intel Foundry, losing key people in 2025-2026

[blueone]

the SIMD is mostly don't getting used for AI it's the Matmul hardware or the tensor core part that is getting used. TPU is just a large matmul accelerator (gross simplification)

You're correct that Blackwells, for example, aren't the (relatively!) simple systolic arrays that GPUs used to be, but SIMD is used actually or conceptually (single instruction stream on multiple threads) in various execution units and dataflows in the chips. I will argue that Nvidia's experience with SIMD concepts and implementations has given them a leg up over companies that have never implemented and productized SIMD or SIMD-like architectures before. The same goes for AMD. And Google has seven generations of getting systolic arrays right in TPUs. I know that you know that theory is easy compared to making an implementation function reliably, with high performance and high efficiency, especially in silicon gates.

 

[siliconbruh999]

You're correct that Blackwells, for example, aren't the (relatively!) simple systolic arrays that GPUs used to be, but SIMD is used actually or conceptually (single instruction stream on multiple threads) in various execution units and dataflows in the chips. I will argue that Nvidia's experience with SIMD concepts and implementations has given them a leg up over companies that have never implemented and productized SIMD or SIMD-like architectures before. The same goes for AMD. And Google has seven generations of getting systolic arrays right in TPUs. I know that you know that theory is easy compared to making an implementation function reliably, with high performance and high efficiency, especially in silicon gates.

AMD has been shipping client GPUs for quite some generation so they have the experience. The issue with AMD is not hardware but software but their Hardware from only hardware point of view is very good but the software and tooling is not mature,. AMD was able to come back in CPU due to the fact that hardware was compatible with already mature X86_64 Ecosystem if somehow you can insert AMD hardware and run CUDA and stuff on it Nvidia would be in a tight spot as for your last sentence I wholeheartedly agree.

 

[benb]

I'd eliminate the program management function completely, and assign the engineering leaders to get the big picture or get out.

Hate to say it because Intel is so decimated already, but you may get your wish. Another round of layoffs coming I think, kicked off by Jack Dorsey. That middle layer is red meat.

 

[siliconbruh999]

Hate to say it because Intel is so decimated already, but you may get your wish. Another round of layoffs coming I think, kicked off by Jack Dorsey. That middle layer is red meat.

if Intel cuts any further they won't survive imo

 

[blueone]

if Intel cuts any further they won't survive imo

That might true for engineering and fab operations, but probably not for marketing, sales, product management, and program management.

 

[MKWVentures]

That might true for engineering and fab operations, but probably not for marketing, sales, product management, and program management.

I think LBT has helped on the program managers. I am ok with a program manager. having 6 for one platform.... and having chief of staff for a couple of them..... and having " assistant to the program manager" (jk) was excessive.

by all metrics Intel was overstaffed at all positions. I firmly believe Intel will deliver better, more quickly, as a result of less people.

That said, I have friends at Intel who said a year ago "we need more people, not less". I told them they were irreversably corrupted and they should go work for government LOL

 

[MKWVentures]

So many but here are my top 5:

• AI Strategy. Did Intel even have one?

As I have mentioned like a broken record, Intel was prioritizing AI accelerators in 2010 and had multiple projects working and prioritized. They made multiple acquisitions.

Somehow, the products have been incredible delayed and as a result incredibly off base on specs. Most were cancelled. I have heard horror stories on the management and execution on the projects (example: Changing product requirements document every month)

I am guessing Intel is too slow and not agile enough to deal with AI (or Mobile). LBT has made major changes to fix this..... but the employees are still there.