AMD and Intel are collaborating. It is surprising, yes, but the giants competing to make the best processors are coming together as leaders of the new x86 ecosystem advisory group, whose stated mission is to “bring together technology leaders to shape the future of the world.” The most widely used computing architecture.”
For those of you who have had enough vitamin D, x86 is an Instruction Set Architecture (ISA). It has been around for nearly 50 years and is the foundation of modern computing. ISA defines how the CPU reads and executes instructions. While AMD and Intel are fierce competitors, they are the two main companies producing x86 processors today. And although AMD and Intel lead the group, it has also been joined by a group of tech giants, including Microsoft, Google, HP, Dell, Broadcom, Lenovo, and Oracle.
It is not surprising that Qualcomm is absent from the list, which is likely the reason this group was formed in the first place. Qualcomm chips use the Arm ISA processor, which is currently the most likely candidate to compete with x86 ISA. Although Qualcomm’s roots are in mobile devices, the company has had successes in PCs with the launch of the Copilot+ laptops and the Snapdragon X Elite CPU. Some predictions suggest that Arm CPUs could account for 40% of laptops sold by 2029, and 20% of laptops as early as next year.
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Great day! @Intel & @AMD have launched an x86 advisory group to drive the customization, compatibility, and scalability needed by customers to evolve and keep up with increasing computing workloads.
We have always advocated for ecosystem participation, and we are proud to work with @LisaSu and AMD… pic.twitter.com/O1TSoxBddg
– Pat Gelsinger (@PGelsinger) October 15, 2024
This unexpected team between AMD and Intel seems to be a way to counter the threat of Arm processors in desktop and laptop computers. According to AMD, the group’s goal is to “enhance compatibility, predictability, and consistency across x86 product offerings.” AMD and Intel will remain “strong competitors,” as AMD puts it, but they will work together to push new features and innovations for x86 computers and ensure broad compatibility beyond the traditional Windows ecosystem.
It’s no secret that Qualcomm has big ambitions in the computer market, and Arm has already made its way into other computing areas. All Apple computers use M-series chips that use the Arm ISA, and Nvidia’s Grace CPU is also using Arm in data center servers. While it is not yet clear what innovations the x86 advisory group will bring, it is clear that the alliance aims to keep the Arm threat at bay.
