A Foundry's Fortunate Turn
Perhaps the biggest winner in all of this is a company that doesn't even compete directly with Intel on many fronts, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, or TSM. For years, the debate has been whether to design your own chips and build your own factories, the Intel way, or to design them and have someone else do the messy, expensive business of manufacturing, the foundry model.
By cancelling its factory plans, Intel has effectively conceded that the foundry model is winning. TSM is the world’s premier contract manufacturer, the go-to factory for almost every major tech company that doesn't have its own. As Intel’s rivals ramp up to steal market share, they will need more chips made. And where will they go? To TSM, of course. This move could send a tidal wave of new business its way.