— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 7, 2026 Tesla/xAI/SpaceX already design their own AI silicon (AI5/AI6 for terrestrial use, D3 for space). They will combine that with Intel’s manufacturing strengths for much faster feedback loops than a traditional foundry relationship would allow. Intel’s foundry business (Intel Foundry / formerly IFS) is in the middle of a multi-year turnaround that accelerated sharply in 2025–2026 under CEO Lip-Bu Tan. The strategy shifted to a disciplined Foundry First focus. They are prioritizing high-margin external customers, yield execution, and capital discipline while still serving Intel’s internal needs. Key Technical & Operational Progress Intel 18A (1.8 nm-class) node entered high-volume manufacturing (HVM) in late 2025 / early 2026, completing the “5 Nodes in 4 Years” roadmap. It’s Intel’s first node with RibbonFET (gate-all-around) transistors + PowerVia (backside power delivery). Yields are reported in the 60–75% range (improving toward 80%+ by 2027 for full profitability). This is already powering Intel’s own Panther Lake and Clearwater Forest chips, with external customer silicon ramping. Advanced packaging (EMIB, Foveros, etc.) is a bright spot and a major revenue driver. Intel is positioning itself as a strong alternative/backup to TSMC for chiplet-based AI designs. Next node 14A (1.4 nm-class) is in early customer engagement. Intel has said it will only add significant capacity with firm external commitments — a clear break from past overbuilding. Government Backing (Major De-Risking) CHIPS Act: $7.86 billion direct grant + up to $11 billion in loans for U.S. fab expansion (Arizona, Ohio, New Mexico, Oregon). Additional $3 billion for a Secure Enclave program. Equity investment: U.S. government took 9.9% stake ($8.9 billion) in 2025, further aligning national-security interests with Intel’s success Brian Wang Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology. Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels. A frequent speaker at corporations, he has been a TEDx speaker, a Singularity University speaker and guest at numerous interviews for radio and podcasts. He is open to public speaking and advising engagements. Categories