Intel Reportedly Gives Up On The “X86S” Initiative, Raising Questions On The Future Of The Architecture

Intel has apparently “given up” on the x86 alliance, which included AMD, Google, and many others, citing that they have ended development of the “x86-S” initiative.

Intel Says It Has “Pivoted” Away From The X86S Project, Which Involved Streamlining The Architecture By “De-Bloating” It

Well, it looks like Intel has decided to take a significant step towards the future development of the x86 ecosystem, as the firm has revealed in an interview with Tom’s Hardware that they won’t be proceeding with the “x86-s” and has distanced itself from the recently-formed “x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group”. Here’s what Intel’s spokesperson said:

We remain deeply committed to the x86 architecture, as demonstrated by the creation of the x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group in collaboration with AMD and other industry leaders. This initiative reinforces our dedication to securing a strong future for x86, building on decades of software compatibility.

While we have pivoted away from the x86S initiative, our focus remains on driving innovation and collaboration within the x86 ecosystem.

– Intel

For those unaware, the X86S initiative was an attempt by Intel to “unify” the x86 instruction set by removing unused 32-bit instructions and features. This included removing support for older, rarely used instructions and simplifying the memory model to enable faster development and scalability. While the approach was seen as a step to promote x86 development, it seems like Intel has backed out of the initiative, but the reasons are unknown for now.

If we were to guess Intel’s reluctance towards x86S, it would likely be associated with the company’s recent situation, where it is experiencing a widespread restructuring, both in terms of finances and organizational structure. So it only makes sense for the firm to currently focus on getting things going for themselves rather than focusing on contributing towards an alliance.

The x86 architecture, which has dominated for several decades, now faces stricter competition than ever, especially with alternatives such as ARM and RISC-V, both of which are seeing rapid adoption from manufacturers due to specific benefits. So, it is more important than ever for x86 pioneers, notably AMD and Intel, to join hands and ensure the architecture’s dominance.