Intel and AWS Forge Multi-Billion Dollar AI Chip Partnership

In September 2024, Intel Corporation and Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar collaboration to develop custom artificial intelligence (AI) chips. This partnership aims to enhance AWS's AI and cloud computing capabilities while advancing U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturing.

Under the agreement, Intel will produce an AI fabric chip for AWS using its advanced 18A process node and a custom Xeon 6 chip on Intel 3. This collaboration signifies a significant expansion of the two companies' longstanding relationship, which dates back to 2006 when AWS launched its first Amazon EC2 instance featuring Intel chips.

Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger highlighted the strategic importance of this partnership, stating, "This expansion of our longtime relationship with AWS reflects the strength of our process technology and delivers differentiated solutions for customer workloads." AWS CEO Matt Garman echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the commitment to delivering innovative cloud infrastructure to customers.

The collaboration also underscores a shared commitment to bolstering U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturing. Intel continues to invest in the New Albany area, with plans to build leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing facilities. Simultaneously, AWS has announced plans to invest an additional $10 billion to expand its data center operations in Ohio, bringing its total committed investment in the state to over $23 billion by the end of 2030.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine praised the partnership, stating, "AWS’s substantial investment in Ohio will help keep our state at the forefront of the global technology." Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted added, "This enormous capital investment further solidifies Ohio as the tech center of the Midwest."

The economic impact of these investments is substantial. AWS's expansion is expected to create hundreds of new AWS jobs in technical roles and support thousands of jobs in the local economy, bolstering local communities across Ohio. These roles include data center engineers, network specialists, and security specialists, among others.

From a technological perspective, the collaboration between Intel and AWS signifies a significant step in advancing AI and cloud computing technologies. By co-developing next-generation AI fabric chips on Intel 18A, the partnership aims to empower customers with the ability to run any workload and unlock new AI capabilities.

Furthermore, this partnership underscores a commitment to enhancing U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturing, which is crucial for national security and technological independence. By investing in domestic manufacturing facilities and expanding data center operations, Intel and AWS are contributing to a more resilient and self-sufficient technology infrastructure in the United States.

In conclusion, the collaboration between Intel and AWS, coupled with substantial investments in Ohio, marks a pivotal moment in the advancement of AI technologies and the strengthening of domestic semiconductor manufacturing. This partnership not only promises economic growth for the region but also positions the United States as a leader in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.