“Is the x86 done? Well, I’ll tell you, rumors of my death are severely exaggerated. We are alive and well, and the x86 is thriving.” Intel CEO speaks on its collaboration with AMD

"Is the x86 done? Well, I'll tell you, rumors of my death are severely exaggerated. We are alive and well, and the x86 is thriving." Intel CEO speaks on its collaboration with AMD

What you need to know

  • Lenovo Tech World 24 is going on right now, a multi-day conference where analysts, media members, and tech leaders come together to discuss the latest tech offerings.
  • Earlier this morning, Intel and AMD announced a collaboration in which the two manufacturers formed the x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group.
  • As part of Lenovo’s event, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger came on stage and explained that x86 architecture isn’t just “alive and well” but also “thriving,” despite what some might say. 
  • Of course, these sentiments are due to Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon ARM CPUs, which have proved to be a powerful competitor in the chip manufacturing field. 

As a seasoned tech journalist with over two decades of industry experience under my belt, I must say that the collaboration between Intel and AMD to form the x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group is a game-changer. It’s reminiscent of the time when Nokia and Microsoft teamed up to create Windows phones, which, while not without their flaws, were a force to be reckoned with in the mobile market.


Yesterday morning, I attended the first day of the Lenovo Tech World 24 conference in Bellevue, Washington. Early on, I sat in on the event’s keynote, at which some very big tech leaders from around the world spoke to the analysts and media gathered. At one point, Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing (affectionately known as “YY”) invited longtime friend and business partner Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger onto the stage. After reminiscing about their friendship a bit, Gelsinger alluded to the x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group press release that had been announced earlier that morning and explained to conference attendees that despite what some people may be saying, x86 is still doing very well. 

As a researcher keeping abreast of technological advancements, you might not have heard about the recent developments that are shaking up the chip-making industry. The growing consensus is that x86 might be phased out due to the emergence of Qualcomm and its AI-empowered Snapdragon X series chips. This year, ARM-based processors, developed by a team of ex-Apple employees, have demonstrated exceptional performance and robust AI capabilities in laptops and mobile devices. Given these impressive showings, Qualcomm has become a formidable competitor to traditional chip manufacturers like AMD and Intel. Consequently, it’s not surprising that they are collaborating to strengthen their CPU focus in the face of this shared challenge.

Some might wonder, “Is the x86 obsolete now?” But let me assure you, any talk of its demise has been greatly overstated. The x86 is not only still around but also flourishing vigorously.

During our discussion, Gelsinger made it clear that there are rumors circulating about the end of x86. However, he emphasized that these rumors are greatly exaggerated. Instead, he views the future of x86 as a time of immense innovation. In fact, the x86 architecture, which has been the foundation of computing for decades, is on the verge of customization, expansion, and scalability. Just this morning, Intel and AMD announced the formation of the x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group, an agreement that both Lisa [AMD CEO Lisa Su] and Pat found surprising.

"Is the x86 done? Well, I'll tell you, rumors of my death are severely exaggerated. We are alive and well, and the x86 is thriving." Intel CEO speaks on its collaboration with AMD

Beyond Intel and AMD, the x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group includes various initial members (companies), including Google, Microsoft, and Meta. However, one may wonder about the role of this Advisory Group. In essence, Gelsinger described it as a platform that unites key players from diverse areas to determine the direction of the x86 platform. The group aims to streamline software development, guarantee interoperability, maintain interface consistency, offer standard architecture, tools, instruction sets, and provide developers with a clear vision of what’s ahead. Gelsinger added that in this era of AI and 3D composition, as well as chiplets, the vitality of the ecosystem offers unprecedented opportunities for innovation in systems, marking a new phase of development.

After a short delay, Lisa Su, the CEO of AMD, appeared on stage and elaborated on the intent behind the newly formed x86 Advisory Group and its significance in the field of Artificial Intelligence.

She noted that Pat was up on stage, and he casually mentioned our x86 Advisory Group. This group signifies a remarkable period in technology’s evolution. Essentially, our aim is to expedite computing speed and promote the widespread adoption of computing. For four decades, x86 has been the dominant architectural force, and by uniting AMD and Intel’s founding members, we hope to significantly boost innovation in the future.

With such influential members, it’s easy to assume the group will be able to meet its goals. 

Is there a reason for concern regarding Qualcomm’s ARM-based Snapdragon X or x86 processors dominating the market? Previously, I mentioned that both x86 and ARM processors have their unique strengths and are valuable in different ways. While x86 offers superior power, it tends to drain battery life more quickly compared to Snapdragon X chips. On the other hand, ARM-based Snapdragon X chips may not be as powerful, but they enable OEMs to manufacture lightweight laptops with extended battery life. Given these differences, I don’t foresee one overtaking the other in the near future.

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2024-10-16 13:39