Microsoft to reportedly use Intel Foundry and 18A for its next-gen Maia AI accelerator

Microsoft is reportedly set to use Intel's new 18A or 18A-P process for its next-gen Maia 3 accelerator for AI and future chips depending on the outcome.

Microsoft to reportedly use Intel Foundry and 18A for its next-gen Maia AI accelerator
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TL;DR: Intel's advanced 18A semiconductor process, produced at its Arizona Fab 52, is set for use in upcoming Panther Lake and Clearwater Forest chips. Microsoft plans to utilize this technology for its Maia 3 AI accelerator, highlighting Intel Foundry's growing role in high-performance chip manufacturing alongside partners like NVIDIA and ARM.

Intel's 18A process or node, created in-house at its US-based Fab 52 semiconductor facility or Intel Foundry in Arizona, is set to be used in the company's upcoming Panther Lake and Clearwater Forest chips. The production-ready technology and Foundry are open for business, and Intel is looking to partner with big tech to manufacture new chips and technologies using the 18A or 18A-P process.

Microsoft to reportedly use Intel Foundry and 18A for its next-gen Maia AI accelerator 2
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One of these new customers, according to a report over at SemiAccurate (via TechPowerUp), is Microsoft. The company is apparently planning to use Intel's 18A process for its next-gen Maia 3 accelerator for AI, codenamed "Griffin." And with that, depending on the yields and success of its latest AI hardware, Microsoft could also tap future Intel process technology like 18A-PT and 14A for future Maia accelerators.

Microsoft expressing interest in leveraging Intel technology for its AI accelerators isn't new. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella released a statement about Microsoft's plans to use 18A for an undisclosed chip when Intel announced its Foundry roadmap in early 2024.

"We are in the midst of a very exciting platform shift that will fundamentally transform productivity for every individual organization and the entire industry," Nadella said at the time. "To achieve this vision, we need a reliable supply of the most advanced, high-performance, and high-quality semiconductors. That's why we are so excited to work with Intel Foundry, and why we have chosen a chip design that we plan to produce on Intel 18A process."

For 18A to succeed and Intel Foundry to become a notable and viable option in the chip market, Intel needs customers like Microsoft to make it happen. Other notable customers and partners for Intel's next-gen chip technology include NVIDIA, Broadcom, and ARM. As for Microsoft's Maia 3 accelerator, details remain scarce. The report indicates that the company could opt for the more advanced 18A-P process with RibbonFET and PowerVia technologies, which enhance both performance and efficiency.