Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) have said they will collaborate to improve software compatibility across their x86-based chips in response to increasing competition from Arm Holdings. The two semiconductor giants, who have long competed in the market while using the same x86 architecture, revealed that they are forming an advisory group to streamline how software operates across their respective chips.
This move comes as both companies face rising pressure from Arm, whose chip designs are increasingly favored in laptops, through companies like Apple and Qualcomm, and in data centres operated by major tech firms like Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet.
For decades, Intel’s x86 architecture has been the backbone of personal computing and data centers, with AMD licensing the technology under a longstanding legal agreement. However, Arm’s popularity has surged due to the ease with which its architecture allows software to function seamlessly across all Arm-based chips, regardless of manufacturer.
In contrast, Intel and AMD’s x86-based chips often require software adjustments to run smoothly on both platforms. The new advisory group will address this by bringing together key industry players, including Broadcom, Dell Technologies, Lenovo, and Oracle, to ensure Intel and AMD chips are more consistent and compatible across a wide range of applications.
Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger, speaking at a developer event hosted by Lenovo in Seattle, spoke on the enduring strength of the x86 architecture, dismissing speculation about its decline. Gelsinger highlighted how x86 technology is poised to evolve, particularly with the growing importance of artificial intelligence, and reiterated that the ecosystem surrounding the architecture remains vibrant.
"We are alive and well," Gelsinger said, stressing that x86 is entering a new phase of customisation and scalability to meet emerging demands in computing.
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