Intel CEO Lip Bu-Tan has hinted that Intel might return to the memory industry it famously exited in the mid-80s when Japanese firms rose to prominence.
During an appearance on Michael Marks’ TechSurge podcast, Tan said one of his pet projects is exploring new memory architectures. He noted that he recently hired former SK Hynix CEO Seok-Hee Lee as EVP of Intel Foundry, “so you kind of know something that I’m thinking about.”
Intel started out as a memory manufacturer in the 1960s, and even after shuttering its main memory business decades ago, it’s dabbled in NAND and Optane. Now, though, it’s clearly considering a return to more mainstream manufacturing, as memory is no longer a commodity, but a strategic asset. Indeed, alongside Nvidia, memory makers Micron, SK Hynix, Samsung, and CXMT have made enormous profits from the AI boom.
Tan joked that talking about memory is a “little bit of Back to the Future.” But he argued that there’s a way to “do stacking” with the CPU and memory. He’s been reluctant to invest in memory, but says “there’s a lot of new technology” coming out that could be interesting.
Producing its own memory would also give Intel greater autonomy, especially if it integrates it into its CPUs. Considering Intel recently filed a patent for XBM that removes the interposer from HBM, it may be that any memory production goes to enterprise solutions.
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Building a new fab would cost billions, though, and represent a risky investment for a company that has struggled in recent years. Following investments from Nvidia and the US government, and a strong response to its latest consumer CPUs, things are looking a little brighter. Enough to build a competitive fab, though? I’m not so sure.
If Intel does jump back in, any additional fabrication capacity would be welcome. Maxed-out production lines are one of the key reasons memory and storage—and everything they require—are so expensive in 2026. Although CXMT is ramping up production and new Micron and SK Hynix facilities are under construction, they aren’t expected to dent memory demand for at least another year or two.
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Jon Martindale is a tech journalist from the UK, with 20 years of experience covering all manner of PC components and associated gadgets. He’s written for a range of publications, including ExtremeTech, Digital Trends, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, and Lifewire, among others. When not writing, he’s a big board gamer and reader, with a particular habit of speed-reading through long manga sagas.
Jon covers the latest PC components, as well as how-to guides on everything from how to take a screenshot to how to set up your cryptocurrency wallet. He particularly enjoys the battles between the top tech giants in CPUs and GPUs, and tries his best not to take sides.
Jon’s gaming PC is built around the iconic 7950X3D CPU, with a 7900XTX backing it up. That’s all the power he needs to play lightweight indie and casual games, as well as more demanding sim titles like Kerbal Space Program. He uses a pair of Jabra Active 8 earbuds and a SteelSeries Arctis Pro wireless headset, and types all day on a Logitech G915 mechanical keyboard.
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