Intel doubles down on foundry ambitions, unveils 18A and 14A process enhancements

In context: Intel's recent challenges are undoubtedly familiar to anyone who has paid even the slightest attention to the semiconductor market. These issues were a key reason the company recently appointed semiconductor industry veteran Lip-Bu Tan as its new CEO. Some even speculated that Intel might spin off its chip-making foundry business.

At the company's recent Direct Connect conference, however, the new CEO made it clear that not only does Intel have no intention of doing so, but it is actually doubling down to reclaim its world-class foundry heritage.

The company used the event to update the market on its forthcoming 18A process – which Intel's products group will use for its Panther Lake line of mobile CPUs set to launch later this year – and highlighted numerous technological advancements in both its core process technologies and advanced packaging capabilities.

While Intel didn't announce any new foundry clients ...