ChipsJuly 21, 2026via CNBC Technology
Intel's foundry lands first named customer under CEO Lip-Bu Tan, as Fortinet signs on for security chips
Why it matters
Intel's struggling foundry business secured its first publicly announced customer under new leadership, signaling potential momentum in competing for specialized chip manufacturing as AI demand reshapes semiconductor strategy.
Key signals
- Fortinet is Intel Foundry's first named customer announcement
- Deal announced under CEO Lip-Bu Tan (took over March 2025)
- Customer focus: security chips (non-AI specialized)
- Timeline: July 2026
The hook
Intel's foundry just landed its first named customer. Here's why that matters for the AI chip wars.
Fortinet is the first announced corporate customer for Intel's foundry under CEO Lip-Bu Tan, who took over the chipmaker in March 2025.