GLOSSARY: Intel’s New Love

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Intel is in seventh heaven, especially after its third-quarter report released last week, which showed the company’s revenues swell from $12.9 billion to $14.2 billion. The margins were fueled by a stabilising server chip business and stronger PC market conditions.

Though the numbers look good in isolation, when pitted against the Q3 revenue of the previous year, it slumped 8%.

While the overall YoY business was down, the company’s two-year-old semiconductor fabrication plant grew by a massive 299% from the previous year, raising $311 million in revenue.

So naturally, the chip company is betting big on the foundry unit and aims to become the market leader, second to TSMC by the end of the decade.

Besides, it has also bagged manufacturing deals from some big companies. Intel has signed an agreement with IFS and Tower Semiconductor, wherein it would provide foundry services and 300mm manufacturing capacity to Tower.

Meanwhile, Intel has been investing heavily in its manufacturing unit, which involves dedicating $20 billion towards the construction of two new facilities in Arizona, and an additional $20 billion designated for a site in Ohio.

All these developments look promising, but beating industry giants like TSMC and Samsung, which are the two biggest players in the segment, is an uphill task. The duo dominate the high-end chip market (16 nm and smaller nodes) that are used in smartphones, AI servers, and cryptocurrency mining rigs.

To close in on the competition and stay relevant, Intel needs to progress to the next process node every two years or sooner.

As of now, Intel faces the dual challenge of advancing technologically while also attracting key clients such as Apple, NVIDIA, and AMD. The company needs to demonstrate prowess in handling chip designs and ensuring reliable, large-scale, timely, and low-defect chip production.

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AMD Powers AI with CPUs

AMD, in contrast to GPU-focused companies like NVIDIA, places a significant emphasis on bringing AI to edge devices, particularly through CPUs. AMD's Siena, introduced in 2022, enabled 64 Zen 4 processor cores in 200 watts, a considerable leap. While GPUs are vital for certain workloads, CPUs can effectively handle AI tasks alone in many cases. AMD's approach encompasses all aspects of AI, including plans to launch Instinct MI300X as an alternative to NVIDIA's H100.

AMD is also investing in AI startups and has a substantial presence in India with plans for R&D investment. Beyond AI, AMD collaborates with Indian telecom equipment makers and is well-positioned for 6G network development.

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Happiest Minds Looks for Talents

Happiest Minds is actively seeking a marketing analytics specialist with a strong background in computer science, STEM, or an MBA, along with over eight years of experience in marketing analytics. The ideal candidate should have a track record of using AI to enhance customer experiences, including customer acquisition, nurturing, and retention.

Proficiency in statistical techniques, machine learning, text analytics, NLP, and reporting tools is required, as well as expertise in programming languages like R, Python, HIVE, SQL, and the ability to manage and summarise large datasets using SQL, Hive-SQL, or Spark. Knowledge of open-source technologies and experience with Azure or AWS is a plus.

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Responsible AI: Lip Service for Tech Giants

For tech giants, the notion of voluntary commitment to responsible AI appears questionable. Instances like Google and Amazon's union-busting efforts, Meta's Cambridge Analytica scandal, and Microsoft and OpenAI's copyright violations underscored this scepticism.

And now, the State of AI report reveals that only a limited number of researchers are actively working on AI alignment – forming a tiny fraction of the global AI research community. Google DeepMind leads in this aspect, with substantial resources dedicated to alignment, while other tech giants fall behind. The commitment of tech companies to responsibility often seems more like a public relations stunt, with their actions contradicting ethical claims.

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