According to news on the evening of December 9, Beijing time, TSMC founder Morris Chang said on Monday that Intel should have focused on AI instead of trying to become a chip foundry. Zhang Zhongmou also said at today's autobiography conference that he didn't know why former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger resigned, but Intel seemed to be looking for a new strategy and a new CEO.
According to reports last week, Gelsinger was forced to leave Intel earlier this month after Intel's board of directors concluded that Gelsinger had to leave because its turnaround plan was not showing results quickly enough. Intel shares have plummeted more than 50% this year and were removed from the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
Gelsinger worked at Intel for 30 years before being forced to leave. In 2021, he will return as CEO, shouldering the mission of reviving Intel's glory. Gelsinger is seeking to restore Intel's lead in making the fastest and smallest computer chips for other companies, a business model known as "foundry" currently dominated by TSMC.
Regarding Kissinger's sudden departure, Zhang Zhongmou said: "I don't know why Pat resigned. I don't know if it was his poor strategy or poor execution. But compared with AI, he seems to be more focused on becoming an OEM manufacturer. Of course, it seems now that he should focus on AI."
Zhang Zhongmou also added: "They currently have neither a new strategy nor a new CEO. It is difficult to find both."
Intel has not yet commented.
Kissinger's departure is the latest sign that the 56-year-old technology company has fallen out of favor. Intel was once a dominant force in chip manufacturing but has ceded its manufacturing advantage to rival TSMC in recent years. Meanwhile, Intel has also missed out on the generative AI boom, including abandoning its investment in ChatGPT owner OpenAI.
According to a report in October, Gelsinger had high hopes for Intel's manufacturing and AI capabilities, but fell short, either losing contracts or having them canceled or failing to deliver promised products.
For example, Intel has reached a cooperation with TSMC, which will manufacture chips for Intel. People familiar with the matter said that TSMC also provided Intel with significant discounts. But Kissinger did not continue to deepen this partnership, but hoped to restore his company's manufacturing capabilities. In response, Zhang Zhongmou called Kissinger "a bit rude."
Analysts said Gelsinger's sudden departure provided a new opportunity for the embattled Intel to consider potential transaction options, including spinning off its chip foundry business and selling it to Qualcomm.