Intel and AMD create x86 advisory group to battle ARM

We bet this one wasn't on your 2024 Bingo card. Intel and AMD are partnering to establish a new advisory committee to enhance and further integrate the x86 ecosystem, intensifying the competition against Arm.

Both Intel and AMD have access to the x86 instruction set architecture (ISA), which dates back to the 8086 in the late 1970s. Despite their competitive history, the two companies are now partnering to create an advisory group focusing on advancing the computing ecosystem and fostering product innovation.

The primary objectives of the x86 ecosystem advisory group revolve around enhancing consumer choice and compatibility, simplifying architectural standards, and enabling more effective integration of new capabilities across hardware and software. This move has garnered support from industry players such as Broadcom, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Oracle, Meta, and Microsoft.

The collaboration between Intel and AMD comes at a time when the rise of Arm has posed a significant threat to x86 systems. With Apple transitioning to Arm-based chips (M-series) for its laptops and Amazon using its in-house-developed Arm CPUs (Graviton) on servers, x86's dominance is dwindling. Even Google, which is on the x86 advisory group, is known to be developing Arm-based CPUs named Axion.

While the threat from Arm is evident, some argue that the Intel and AMD collaboration is not solely a response to external pressures but also a strategic step to leverage their shared ISA, compatibility, and standards. Nonetheless, the impact of this partnership remains to be seen in the long run.

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KitGuru says: What do you think will result from this collaboration?

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