Intel and AMD team up to defend x86
Intel and AMD are joining forces to establish a new advisory group with the goal of enhancing and better unifying the x86 ecosystem. In other words, the fightback against Arm intensifies.
Intel and AMD share access to the x86 instruction set architecture (ISA), first introduced with the 8086 in the late '70s. By hook or by crook, AMD secured a licence to make compatible chips and these two companies have been competing ever since. They've not always got along, either, but you don't need me to tell you that.
«As vigorous competitors, Intel and AMD at the same time share a history of industry collaboration…» the press release reads. «This advisory group takes this industry collaboration to the next level for the benefit of the entire computing ecosystem and as a catalyst for product innovation.»
The main aims of the x86 ecosystem advisory group are a little nebulous—they sound like they're all saying the same things in broadly different ways. Though the general jist appears to be greater compatibility, simplicity and capability across x86 products.
Here they are in full:
Both Intel and AMD CEOs are quoted in the oddly collaborative announcement.
Pat Gelsinger says Intel is «proudly standing together with AMD».
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Meanwhile, Lisa Su says AMD is «excited to bring the industry together to provide direction on future architectural enhancements and extend the incredible success of x86 for decades to come.»
Other companies have signed their support for the group, including Google Cloud, Broadcom, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Oracle, and Microsoft. Oh, and Epic CEO Tim Sweeney and Linux creator Linus Torvalds are also 'luminaries' within the group.
You might be wondering, 'what's happened in recent years that might make these historical frenemies work together?'
One major concern for x86 is the emergence of Arm. Once upon a time, major tech companies like Apple would've stuck with x86 and
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