On the morning of the 21st, there were reports that Qualcomm was in talks with Intel regarding the acquisition. If this transaction is completed, it will be a major change in the computer industry.

For a long time, Intel's x86 architecture and Qualcomm's Arm architecture have been "loving and killing" in the chip market. The x86 architecture dominates the PC field, while the Arm architecture has advantages in the mobile device field.

But with the collapse of the Intel empire, this situation may be reversed. Qualcomm's intention to acquire part of Intel's business will undoubtedly have a profound impact on this decades-long competitive landscape, giving Qualcomm stronger competitiveness in the PC market.

Qualcomm is continuously launching attacks on the PC market.

For many years, Intel has had deep accumulation in the data center and server market. The x86 processor once led the PC field.

However, in recent years, ARM architecture chips have gradually gained favor among manufacturers. ARM chips are known for their high energy efficiency and low heat generation, and have achieved great success in the mobile device field.

Qualcomm is famous for its smartphone chips, but in recent years it has been launching attacks on the PC market and taking advantage of Intel's continued struggles.

Qualcomm recently announced that its Snapdragon X Plus 8-core processor adopts ARM architecture, stating that the processor is specifically designed for PCs priced as low as $700, excelling in energy efficiency and battery life. Qualcomm has also established an exclusive partnership with Microsoft, as CoPilot+PC is equipped with the Qualcomm X series chips. Intel and AMD have not yet been fitted in these PCs.

"This puts Qualcomm ahead by a few quarters." Mario Morales, Vice President of IDC's Support Technologies and Semiconductors Group, stated, "However, Qualcomm took the lead early on, but this is a long game."

Earlier this year, Microsoft introduced a new generation of Surface laptops with Qualcomm ARM chips, surpassing Apple's latest MacBook with M3 chips in some performance tests, demonstrating the competitiveness of ARM chips in the PC field.

Innovation focused on AI PCs will be more competitive.

Analysts believe that Qualcomm's rise may signify a significant shift in the PC chip market landscape, with innovation focused on AI PCs becoming more competitive.

"If Qualcomm takes this step (acquiring Intel), it may signify a significant shift in the balance of power in the PC chip market," said Scott Dylan, founder of NexaTech Ventures.

With the mobile smart phone market becoming increasingly saturated, Qualcomm is seeking growth and diversification, including ventures in the field of artificial intelligence. Scott Dylan added that this would ultimately be a victory for Qualcomm in achieving a diversified strategy beyond mobile chipsets, "but it may also signal Intel's withdrawal from its once dominant position in the semiconductor market."

Earlier this month, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon stated in an interview with CNBC, "We are embarking on a journey of diversification and ensuring that our technology is now expanding into other markets."

He added that the PC market is undergoing "fundamental" changes for two reasons: the fusion of mobile and PC. People are starting to expect the same performance in terms of battery life and other aspects as smartphones, as well as the fusion of AI and desktop computers.

Looking back at Intel, the company is at a critical crossroads. Massive losses have forced the company to announce layoffs of more than 15% this August and undergo a large-scale strategic adjustment.

Last week, the Intel board of directors held a three-day board meeting, considering various strategic options, including cutting billions of dollars in factory projects, selling off some subsidiaries including previously acquired Mobileye and Altera, and even possibly splitting the core business into independent companies.

Intel will release two products in the future, Lunar Lake and Panther Lake, and the market is watching to see if this will be Intel's final opportunity.

1. Editor/Emily