Intel is preparing to enter the graphics processing unit (GPU) market, a fast-growing segment driven by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and demand for advanced computing power. The announcement was made by CEO Lip-Bu Tan during the Cisco AI Summit, according to TechCrunch.
Unlike CPUs, which have long been Intel’s core products, GPUs are specialized processors widely used in gaming and in demanding applications such as AI model training. This technology has been central to the rise of Nvidia, which currently holds a dominant position in the market.
Read also: Nvidia invests USD 2 billion in CoreWeave to accelerate AI data center rollout
According to Reuters, the initiative will be led by Kevork Kechichian, executive vice president and head of Intel’s data center division, who joined the company in September as part of a broader engineering-focused hiring effort. Intel also recruited Eric Demers in January, following more than 13 years at Qualcomm.
An early-stage move with strategic implications
Tan noted that the GPU program remains at an early stage, with Intel planning to shape its direction around customer requirements. While Nvidia did not invent the GPU, its AI-focused chips have become industry benchmarks, helping the company secure market leadership.
Intel’s expansion into GPUs is particularly notable given Tan’s earlier statements about prioritizing consolidation and core operations. Even within the broader semiconductor space, the move signals a meaningful strategic shift.
Photo: Quartz
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