Intel CEO Says TSMC Is Partner, Not Rival; Data Center Chips to Use In-House Foundry (INTC, TSM)

Intel Corp. (INTC) CEO Lip-Bu Tan on June 2, 2026, said the chipmaker does not view Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC, TSM) as a competitor, calling it a trusted long-term partner, and disclosed that data center products will rely on Intel’s own foundry. Speaking at COMPUTEX in Taipei, Tan said Intel remains a major TSMC customer and will maintain that relationship. The company will adopt a hybrid manufacturing strategy: data center chips will use Intel Foundry to showcase differentiation, while PC and edge devices may tap external foundries, including TSMC, especially when specific technologies or capacity are needed. Tan added that Intel’s foundry business is engaging multiple potential customers, and that a rise in capital expenditure would signal confirmed orders. Intel also highlighted advanced packaging as key to mixing chiplets from different fabs, reducing single-source dependency. The custom-chip business, strengthened by Intel’s integrated device manufacturer model, sees strong demand, with partnerships such as Google and Ericsson.