Intel is currently facing a tough period, and now, CEO Pat Gelsinger has stepped down. Amid this turmoil, Apple’s transition to its own silicon appears to be a striking success.
Intel’s CEO Departure Follows Years of Challenges
According to Intel’s official statement, Gelsinger is retiring, but the recent upheaval and past struggles indicate that this decision was indeed an ousting.
As reported by Ian King, Liana Baker, and Ryan Gould at Bloomberg:
Intel Corp. Chief Executive Officer Pat Gelsinger was ousted after the board lost faith in his strategies to revive the historic chipmaker, adding to the ongoing turmoil at one of the industry’s pioneers.
The conflict escalated last week during a board meeting where Gelsinger was assessed on the company’s efforts to reclaim market share from Nvidia Corp. He faced the choice of retiring or being removed and opted to announce his departure.
Gelsinger’s exit can largely be attributed to the rise of AI, particularly led by Nvidia.
While Intel’s struggles coincidentally align with Apple’s shift to Apple silicon for its Macs in 2020, the two events are mainly unrelated.
However, even though Apple bears no significant responsibility for the decline of its former partner, this situation represents a major triumph for Apple silicon.
Why is that? Because Apple silicon has not only revitalized the Mac in ways that Intel could not but has also insulated Apple from the adverse effects of Intel’s challenges.
Imagining a World Without Apple Silicon
While some analysts might argue that Apple is lagging in AI, it’s crucial to consider where Apple would be had the transition to its own silicon not occurred.
Apple silicon serves as the foundation for Apple Intelligence and many advancements in Mac features achieved in recent years.
If this chip shift hadn’t taken place, the Mac would have been stagnating, putting Apple’s AI ambitions in significant jeopardy.
All these challenges would have brought Apple to a very different point today, relying on Intel for its Mac processors at a time when Intel is facing its own leadership transition after ousting its CEO.
In essence, while Apple silicon may not have played a direct role in Intel’s decline, it certainly has shielded Apple from a great deal of trouble.
As the holiday season has passed, Apple’s leadership is undoubtedly grateful for the outstanding work of their silicon team.
What are your thoughts on where Apple would stand if it still depended on Intel for chips? Share your insights in the comments.
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