Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan

TMTPOST — While Intel skipped a keynote speech at the 2025 Taipei International Computer Show (COMPUTEX), the U.S. chipmaker made waves with a major product unveiling and candid leadership remarks that underscore its ambition to reclaim competitive ground in a rapidly evolving semiconductor landscape.

On May 19, Intel introduced a new suite of AI-focused graphics processing units (GPUs) and accelerator chips tailored for developers and professional users. The launch includes the Arc Pro B60 and Arc Pro B50, offering 24GB and 16GB of memory, respectively. The B60 model, in particular, supports multi-GPU scalability, and both units are optimized for architecture, engineering, construction (AEC), and AI inference workloads.

During an Intel-hosted dinner in Taipei, CEO Lip-Bu Tan acknowledged Intel's recent struggles. "Some of Intel's products currently lack competitiveness," he said, noting that the company is "making changes to address these shortcomings." Despite facing challenges, Tan pointed out Intel still commands 68% of the PC and client processor market and 55% of the data center CPU segment.

Tan emphasized cultural reform inside Intel, calling for direct communication and truth-telling. "Sometimes too many layers in the hierarchy can distort communication," he said. To address this, Tan often consults engineers "seven or eight levels down" the corporate ladder. He also restructured the engineering division to report directly to him.

Execution is Intel's top priority, he stressed. "The best way to revitalize Intel is through execution, execution, and more execution," Tan said. That includes a no-nonsense approach to customer and internal feedback: "Tell me the bad news first. Tell me where things went wrong."

Intel's newly launched Arc Pro B series supports both consumer and professional drivers on Windows and enables containerized deployments on Linux—an increasingly important feature for AI workloads. The company also introduced Project Battlematrix, a modular Xeon-based platform capable of running up to eight Arc Pro B60 GPUs with 192GB of combined VRAM. This configuration is suited for mid-sized AI models with up to 150 billion parameters.

In a press briefing, Intel representatives claimed the new GPU lineup offers "the highest configuration in the mainstream price segment." For comparison, NVIDIA's RTX A1000 and RTX 2000 Ada feature 8GB and 16GB of memory, respectively.

The Arc Pro B60 delivers up to 197 TOPS (Int8), while the B50 clocks in at 170 TOPS, both compliant with U.S. export control regulations—clearing them for sale in mainland China. Intel expects B60 samples to reach partners like ASRock and Gunnir by June, with the B50 to be distributed through authorized channels starting in July.

The company also shared updates on the Intel Gaudi 3 AI accelerator, which now comes in both PCIe and rack-level configurations. Designed to support scalable AI inference across models like Llama, Gaudi 3 features up to 64 accelerators per rack and 8.2TB of high-bandwidth memory. Though Gaudi 3 cannot be exported to China, Intel plans to pair Arc Pro GPUs with Xeon CPUs to meet domestic demand for AI compute power.

In a further nod to the developer ecosystem, Intel launched the AI Assistant Builder, an open-source software stack for building AI agent products on Intel platforms.

The announcements come at a pivotal time for Intel. Tan, who also spoke at the dinner, acknowledged recent missteps. "To be honest, it's a bit embarrassing," Intel CFO David Zinsner said last week, referring to a string of underwhelming product launches.

Still, Gelsinger painted an optimistic picture. Marking Intel's 40-year partnership with Taiwan's technology ecosystem, he credited the region with playing a foundational role in the global success of the x86 architecture.

Gelsinger also shared personal reflections on his time in Taiwan, including a stint at Acer that stretched from a planned three months to 15 years. "Don't casually say three months," he joked, "because three months can turn into fifteen years."

Now, as he returns to Taipei as Intel's CEO, Tan emphasized a renewed commitment to collaboration and transformation: "Together, we can make the world a better place," he said, outlining a future centered on data centers, PCs, edge computing, and the cloud.

As Intel doubles down on AI hardware, cultural transparency, and global partnerships, Computex 2025 may mark an inflection point in the company's efforts to regain its footing against rivals like Nvidia and TSMC—and to write a new chapter in its storied semiconductor legacy.