Intel’s recovery appears increasingly unattainable as it declared yet another quarterly deficit and discussed another round of layoffs in order to cut costs. The tech giant anticipates that over 15,000 employees will quit the firm in the following months, with others possibly opting for early retirement or voluntary redundancy.
The current year has seen this pattern unfolding. Every time the industry begins to recover from significant job cuts, another corporation announces massive adjustments to accommodate the new business climate, which is understandably discouraging for the workforce.
Intel had announced its intention to transform into a foundry — producing chips on a contractual basis — three years ago, and there was a general sense of positivity that this move would define Intel’s future trajectory. However, the road to recovery was never expected to be swift. As the company continues to pile on deficits while investing in next-generation facilities to surpass Samsung and stand second to TMSC, investor confidence may be at risking snapping point.
Staffing challenges and escalating building costs have added to the woes. Intel has made significant investments in plants in Ireland and across Europe, but has faced numerous delay issues. The start of construction on the new fabrication location in Magdeburg, Germany, was postponed as Intel sought additional subsidies from the government. Eventually, despite the costs escalating from $17 billion (€15.5 billion) to $30 billion, Intel was able to secure $10 billion from the German government. It’s reported that site preparation has now commenced.
Intel is banking heavily on its foundry strategy. Although the firm was once a dominant player in the PC industry, it was blindsided by the rapid expansion of the mobile sector, offering its rivals an advantage. The company has found it challenging to capitalise on the boom in AI, although it aims to reverse that trend in the future.
Pat Gelsinger, the CEO, commented, “We need to enhance our delivery, adjust to new market conditions and become a more nimble organisation.” He added that this strategically mirrors their actions, even though they’re hard, they will reinforce their capability to cater to their customers and expand their business in the forthcoming years. However, it remains to be seen whether Intel can exhibit the effectiveness of this optimism.