Intel has issued a warning that it may exit the cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturing sector if it fails to secure significant external customers for its Intel 14A process node. This marks a potential shift for the company, historically known as a key steward of Moore's Law. The company’s 10-Q filing highlights that without meeting important customer milestones for the 14A node, continuing development and manufacturing of this and subsequent leading-edge nodes may not be economically viable. Intel’s CEO Lip-Bu Tan has initiated a restructuring that includes abandoning mega-factory projects in Germany and Poland, accompanied by job cuts. Additionally, Tan has implemented a policy requiring his personal review and approval of all major chip designs before tape-out. Despite recent weak earnings and concerns over order pullbacks due to tariffs, there are reports of a possible partnership involving Intel’s 14A process with Apple, suggesting some optimism. Intel is also rumored to be developing new desktop CPUs with increased L3 cache to compete with AMD’s Ryzen X3D processors, and plans to reintegrate Hyper-threading technology into upcoming Panther Lake and Granite Rapids processor generations.