Intel’s former CEO, Pat Gelsinger, previously staked the company’s future on the 18A manufacturing node.

However, recent reports indicate that Intel is now urging clients to consider the 14A node instead, as concerns grow about the attractiveness of the 18A to external customers.

This change comes on the heels of Intel’s cancellation of the 20A node and slow releases for its Intel 4 and Intel 3 processes. Currently, customers must revert to the 10nm (renamed Intel 7) for chip designs across the board.

Reuters suggests that current CEO Lip Bun Tan is pushing for a focus on 14A, which Intel expects could provide a competitive edge over Taiwan’s TSMC. Tan is contemplating whether to abandon external sales of the 18A node and its variant, which has led to significant capital expenditure without substantial returns.

Quote from Tan: “We need to pivot and invest more heavily in 14A.”

This shift raises questions about Intel’s ongoing viability in a competitive tech landscape where major clients seem to favor TSMC’s offerings. As of now, Intel’s affirmation that the majority of their production on the 18A will remain internal is likely a sign of the growing challenges they face in attracting more customers for their newer nodes.