By creating separate entities, the semiconductor giant is making a strategic realignment to better compete with NVIDIA and AMD, which are getting too far ahead of certain cutting-edge technologies.
Intel is exploiting all the growth drivers within its reach – including the European Chips Act – to counterbalance the effects of an economic climate that is not always favorable and to stay in the race. And it is not close to an upheaval in its workforce, when the gap widens with other behemoths on the market.
Different trades
In this context, the firm announced, at the beginning of the week, the separation of its graphics chip unit. Thus, the GPU team for the consumer market will now be attached to its consumer computing entity (CCG – Client Computing Group).
For their part, teams working on even more advanced GPU technologies for HPC (High-performance Computing) will join the activities of the Datacenter and AI Group. The DCAI notably steers research and strategy in artificial intelligence (AI) for the company.
Thus divided, there is strong reason to think that the teams of the graphics chips division will be able to take the best of both worlds to continue their activities.
Accelerate on AI
But it is above all the rapprochement with the DCAI of its personnel working on advanced calculations, which interests Intel. Indeed, this decision comes as the Santa Clara giant redoubles its efforts in research and development of GPUs applied to AI.
To date, this growing segment remains dominated by NVIDIA, especially on the GPU side for data centers. For its part, AMD performs well on CPUs, thereby stimulating the use of its graphics units. Remember, however, that Intel has entered into the race for data centers with Ponte Vecchio, but it must go even further. By carrying out such a reorganization, it therefore intends to regain a head start on its two rivals.
In the race for GPUs, the year 2023 promises to be sporty for the DCAI teams of the Californian firm. Especially when the specter of future layoffs hovers at Intel…
Sources: Reuters, QZ.com
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