Silicon Valley Nordic Beat: Weekly Buzz & Insights
November 1
Editor's Column: An Inteliever's Flicker
Today, Intel believers saw a glimmer of hope as the company’s Q4 outlook exceeded expectations, with projected sales up to $14.3 billion and new clients drawn to its advanced 18A processor. But on the same day, they also learned Intel would be removed from the Dow Jones on November 8, replaced by Nvidia—a reminder of its recent struggles.
I have to admit, it has been a bit sad to watch Intel shrink before our eyes.
I first visited Silicon Valley as a journalist in 1997, back when everyone was buzzing about Swedish dot-com companies, and Telia had an office in Santa Clara. And I interviewed the investor Ann Winblad, who shared stories about her ex-boyfriend, Bill Gates.
The main reason I was here, however, was that my boyfriend was attending Intel’s annual conference in San Francisco. Naturally, I visited the Robert Noyce Building, Intel’s headquarters, and the museum.
When I moved here 20 years later, Intel was once again part of the story. My boyfriend had long since become my husband, and stepping into Intel’s offices in Santa Clara felt like returning to the mothership. A few years ago, he moved on to new adventures—something we, his family, never thought he would do.
The mothership remains in Santa Clara, but Intel has been navigating rough waters. Once a dominant force in semiconductors, Intel has faced tough competition from TSMC, AMD, and Nvidia while missing key opportunities in the AI boom. This struggle contributed to a drop of over 50% in its shares earlier this year.
Still, Intel’s story may start to look like history, but it’s not over yet. For decades, Intel was the guardian of Moore’s Law, doubling processing power every two years and leading the industry. Now, as that pace slows, Intel has a chance to reinvent itself.
The Robert Noyce Building and the Intel Museum still stand, both as reminders of the company that put Silicon in Silicon Valley. Intel may be down, but these recent moves suggest it might be readying itself for another chapter—one where resilience, not just dominance, becomes its legacy.
