July 2, 2025 – According to sources cited by Reuters on the 1st local time, Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan has directed the company to draft a series of proposals for discussion at upcoming board meetings, including whether to halt marketing of its Intel 18A (-P) advanced manufacturing process to new clients.
The move follows industry feedback suggesting the cutting-edge technology is struggling to attract fresh customers, prompting Tan to prioritize resources toward Intel 14A—a process seen as having better potential to outperform rivals like TSMC.
Should Intel’s foundry division abandon efforts to promote Intel 18A (-P), the company could face write-downs ranging from hundreds of millions to billions of dollars. Given the financial stakes and operational complexity, a final decision is unlikely before the board’s autumn session.
Importantly, existing partnerships—including agreements with Intel’s product divisions and external clients like Microsoft and Amazon Web Services—will remain unaffected by the strategic review.
Intel declined to confirm the reports, releasing a statement instead: “Lip-Bu Tan and the executive team remain focused on strengthening our roadmap, building trust with customers, and improving our financial trajectory. We’ve identified clear priorities and will take decisive actions to drive business recovery.”
The developments underscore Intel’s broader struggle to regain ground in the fiercely competitive semiconductor manufacturing sector, where delays and shifting client demands have complicated its turnaround plans.
