Intel’s recent partnership with Cisco is an indication of a very smart and strategic comeback. The company has worked very hard to find its AI position but has not been successful for a long time. After failed GPU efforts and competition from both AMD and Nvidia, Intel’s Xeon 6 CPUs are finally acknowledged and used, they are in fact the power of Cisco’s new edge AI platform.
This move may not be a very flashy one but is a very clever one, as it targets the rapidly growing market where AI processes are done in real-time outside the data centers, in factories, hospitals, and stores. This transition gives a hint that Intel is aware of its strongholds, which is its efficiency, reliability, and scale.
On one hand, Intel is finally giving proof that the company is still a vital player in the AI sector. Edge AI is a fast growing area, and Intel’s well established infrastructure gives it a lead in this case.
On the other hand, the production blockages and GPU missed opportunities of Intel are still obstructing its progress. While companies like AMD and ARM are pursuing similar objectives, Intel’s success will depend on the quality of its execution, and not just on announcements.
The integration of Xeon 6 CPUs in Cisco’s Unified Edge is not only a business transaction, rather it is also a symbolic move towards keeping the company relevant and granting it a renewal.
If Intel manages to keep up with this pace, meet its production commitments and still work together with the likes of Cisco in the industry, then perhaps it will be able to change its AI story from “the one who is catching up” to “the one who is catching on”.
This could be the beginning of resurrection for Intel, the one that has not been based on hype but rather on substance.
