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Intel CEO Considers Major Shift in Foundry Strategy, Focuses on 14A Chipmaking to Compete with TSMC

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Intel’s new CEO Lip-Bu Tan is contemplating a significant change to the company’s contract chip manufacturing business, potentially abandoning the costly 18A process developed under his predecessor to focus on the newer 14A technology. This move aims to better compete with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) and attract major clients like Apple and Nvidia, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The 18A process, which Intel invested billions in, is seen as losing appeal among prospective customers. Shifting focus away from it could lead to a substantial financial write-off for Intel, possibly costing hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars. Intel confirmed it would continue producing chips using 18A for its own internal designs, including the “Panther Lake” laptop chips planned for 2025, as well as fulfilling existing contracts with Amazon and Microsoft.

Tan, who took over in March, has quickly moved to cut costs and reshape Intel’s direction amid years of falling behind in chip technology. The 18A process, which features new transistor designs and energy delivery methods, was intended to rival TSMC’s leading-edge technology but is now considered roughly comparable to TSMC’s earlier N3 node.

By emphasizing 14A, Intel hopes to offer a more competitive foundry service and win contracts from major chip designers currently reliant on TSMC’s manufacturing. The company is customizing 14A to client needs and planning a strategic discussion with its board as soon as this month, with a final decision expected in the fall.

Intel’s move reflects the high stakes involved in regaining its manufacturing edge after a difficult period culminating in an $18.8 billion net loss in 2024. Tan has also revamped Intel’s leadership and streamlined management to improve agility.

While the strategy is still forming, the potential pivot marks one of Tan’s boldest efforts to restore Intel’s chipmaking leadership and profitability.

Nvidia Regains Title as Most Valued Company in June on AI Optimism

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Nvidia reclaimed its position as the world’s most valuable company by market capitalization in June, reaching $3.86 trillion, driven by renewed investor optimism over its AI leadership and rising demand for its AI chips. This valuation was about 4.3% higher than Microsoft’s $3.69 trillion market cap at the end of June.

Despite this, Nvidia’s value remains below Apple’s record high of approximately $3.92 trillion set in December 2024. Apple ranked third with a market capitalization of $3.1 trillion at the end of June.

Other tech giants also saw significant gains: Meta Platforms rose 14% to $1.86 trillion, Broadcom increased 13.9% to $1.3 trillion, and Amazon grew 7% to $2.33 trillion. Meanwhile, Tesla’s market value dropped 8.3% to $1.02 trillion, affected by CEO Elon Musk’s public conflict with former President Donald Trump.

Daniel Ives, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, forecasted that Nvidia and Microsoft would both surpass $4 trillion market caps this summer, with a focus on reaching the $5 trillion mark over the next 18 months, signaling that the tech bull market is still in its early phase, led by the AI revolution.

Judge Rejects Apple’s Bid to Dismiss U.S. Antitrust Lawsuit over iPhone Market Power

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Apple must face a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuit accusing it of unlawfully maintaining monopoly power in the U.S. smartphone market, a federal judge ruled on Monday. The decision paves the way for a potentially years-long legal battle over Apple’s business practices.

U.S. District Judge Julien Neals in Newark, New Jersey, denied Apple’s motion to dismiss the case, which centers on how the company allegedly uses technical and contractual restrictions to limit competition. The DOJ, joined by several states and Washington, D.C., argues that Apple has implemented policies that discourage users from switching to rival devices and suppress third-party innovation in areas like apps, smartwatches, messaging, and digital wallets.

An Apple spokesperson responded by saying the company believes the lawsuit is flawed in both fact and law, and vowed to vigorously defend itself in court. The DOJ declined to comment on the ruling.

Apple’s iPhone, the world’s most popular smartphone, generated $201 billion in sales in 2024. The tech giant introduced a new budget iPhone model in February, pricing it $170 higher than the previous version despite added features.

The antitrust case, filed in March 2024, argues that Apple’s practices—including restricting app developer access, imposing high fees, and limiting device interoperability—create unlawful barriers to competition. Apple counters that these policies are necessary for security and innovation, and that being forced to share proprietary technology could undermine its product ecosystem.

This case joins a broader wave of U.S. antitrust actions against major tech companies, spanning both the Biden and Trump administrations. Meta Platforms and Amazon are also facing monopoly lawsuits, while Google-owner Alphabet is battling two separate antitrust cases.