Intel has begun what it calls "risk production" of 18A-P, its most advanced chip manufacturing process to date. The company confirmed the milestone this week, and Intel (INTC) shares extended gains on June 17 following the news.
A manufacturing process, or "node," is essentially the blueprint used to build chips. 18A-P is a performance-enhanced version of Intel's existing 18A node. According to Tom's Hardware, the upgraded node promises a 9% performance improvement at the same power level and cuts thermal resistance by 40% — meaning chips should run faster and cooler. Importantly, Intel says 18A-P shares design rule compatibility with 18A, which Tom's Hardware describes as a "drop-in" upgrade, so existing chip designs can move over without being reworked from scratch.
"Risk production" is an early manufacturing stage that lays the groundwork to ramp up to full-volume production in the coming months. Intel detailed the progress, along with broader roadmap and research milestones, at the 2026 VLSI Symposium, as reported by SemiWiki and others.
The timing matters because demand for CPUs is being driven by the artificial intelligence boom, according to Yahoo Finance. Beyond the technology itself, several outlets framed the announcement around business stakes. CNBC reported that the move inches Intel "closer to a possible Apple deal," suggesting 18A-P could be the target of a coming manufacturing arrangement with Apple, a question also raised by AppleMagazine.
For years, Intel has lagged rivals in cutting-edge chip manufacturing. A working, competitive node — and the prospect of winning a marquee customer like Apple — would mark a meaningful step in its effort to rebuild its foundry business and reclaim technology leadership. Why it matters: whether Intel can manufacture chips as well as the industry's leaders shapes the competitive balance of the entire semiconductor industry.