AMD and Intel are teaming up. Shocking, yes, but the two giants who duke it out over the making the best processors are joining forces as the leaders of the new x86 ecosystem advisory group, the stated mission of which is “bringing together technology leaders to shape the future of the world’s most widely used computing architecture.”
For those of you that get sufficient vitamin D, x86 is an instruction set architecture, or ISA. It’s been around for nearly 50 years, and it’s the bedrock of modern computing. An ISA dictates how a CPU reads and executes instructions. AMD and Intel may be fierce rivals, but they are the two major companies producing x86 processors today. Although AMD and Intel are leading the group, an ensemble of massive tech companies have also joined, including Microsoft, Google, HP, Dell, Broadcom, Lenovo, and Oracle.
Unsurprisingly absent from the list is Qualcomm, which is probably the reason this group was formed in the first place. Qualcomm’s chips use the Arm ISA, which is the current frontrunner for an ISA rivaling x86. Although Qualcomm’s roots are in mobile devices, the company has made inroads into PCs with the launch of Copilot+ laptops and the Snapdragon X Elite CPU. Some projections say that Arm CPUs could represent 40% of laptop sold by 2029, and 20% of laptops just next year.
Big day! @Intel & @AMD launched an x86 advisory group to drive the customization, compatibility, and scalability customers need to evolve and keep pace with increasing compute workloads.
We've always championed ecosystem engagement, and we’re proud to work with @LisaSu and AMD… pic.twitter.com/O1TSoxBddg
— Pat Gelsinger (@PGelsinger) October 15, 2024
This unlikely team up between AMD and Intel seems like a way to stave off the threat of Arm processors in desktops and laptops. According to AMD, the goal of the group is to “enhance compatibility, predictability, and consistency across x86 product offerings.” AMD and Intel will still be “vigorous competitors,” as AMD puts it, but they’ll be working together to drive new features and innovations for x86 PCs, and ensuring broad compatibility outside of the traditional Windows ecosystem.
It’s no secret that Qualcomm has big ambitions in PCs, and Arm has already worked its way into other areas of computing. Apple’s PCs all use M-series chips that use the Arm ISA, and Nvidia’s Grace CPU in the data center uses Arm as well. Although it’s not clear yet what kind of innovations the x86 advisory group will bring, it’s clear that the coalition is an effort to keep the Arm threat at bay.
Nearly a month after announcing the GPT-6.1 Sol model, OpenAI unveiled GPT-6.1 Terra today. The latest addition to the family focuses on computer use, visual reasoning, coding, and professional work, while costing 50% less through the API than GPT-5.6 Terra.
OpenAI says Terra can handle everything from filling out browser forms and working inside spreadsheets to interpreting technical drawings and editing videos. The company says it can also complete computer-based tasks more than three times faster than GPT-6 Astra and GPT-6.1 Sol.
ASUS has started selling its UGen Intel Arc Pro B70 graphics card in Europe, bringing its take on Intel’s workstation GPU to customers with a hefty €1,799 recommended price. The card is available in Germany and Austria, while ASUS lists it at CHF 1,799 in Switzerland.
Intel first introduced the Arc Pro B70 in March 2026, with its own branded model starting at $949. ASUS’s version arrives several months later with the same core GPU architecture but a different cooling design and a higher power rating. The price also places it well above Intel’s original starting point, although the two prices are not directly comparable because ASUS’s European figure includes VAT.
Anthropic has officially filed to go public, and buried inside its S-1 is a blunt warning about the technology at the center of its business. The maker of Claude AI says advanced AI could cause everything from large-scale cyberattacks and geopolitical instability to catastrophic or even existential risks for humanity.
The warnings take up a surprisingly large part of the filing. Axios notes that more than 90 pages, or roughly a third of the prospectus, focus on risk factors. Many of them warn about what could happen as AI systems become more capable and autonomous.