Intel, eager to expand its market share in AI-powered enterprise software, is creating a new platform company with the support of DigitalBridge, a Boca Raton, Florida-based asset manager and investor. This company, Articul8 AI (an awkward abbreviation of “Articulate AI”), was developed from an Intel collaboration with Boston Consulting Group (BSG) that started in early May of last year.
Intel created a general AI system that can read text and images, using a combination of open source and internally-sourced software, and running inside BCG’s data centers to address BSG’s security requirements.
This system took Intel two or so years to develop, but more recently, it was fine-tuned for BSG’s specific needs, as reported by CRN. Initially, BCG was the only supplier and customer of the system.
In the last few months, Intel has been actively scaling its platform to companies in the financial services, aerospace, semiconductor, telecommunications, and other industries.
This platform is optimized for Intel hardware but also supports alternatives. According to an Intel spokesperson, these companies require high levels of security and specialized domain knowledge.
The spokesperson from Articul8 AI that they built their gen AI software product from the ground up to cater to the enterprises’ needs. This platform offers speed of deployment, scalability, security, and sustainability with its cost-effective features.
Additionally, this platform keeps customer data, training, and inference within the enterprise security perimeter and gives customers the choice to deploy in the cloud, on-premise, or hybrid.
Arun Subramaniyan, who previously held the roles of VP and GM at Intel’s data center and AI group, will serve as Articul8’s CEO. The team at Articul8 will consist of former Intel employees, and Intel will possess an undisclosed stake in the firm.
In addition to Intel and DigitalBridge, which are publically traded and major investors in data centers, Articul8’s investors include Fin Capital, Mindset Ventures, Communitas Capital, GiantLeap Capital, GS Futures, and Zain Group.
Intel and Articul8 will stay strategically aligned. Intel will use Articul8’s enterprise-gen AI software for its use cases and offer it to end customers as part of a joint go-to-market partnership.
This collaboration will help Intel promote its computing offerings. Additionally, Intel will benefit from Articul8’s AI domain knowledge and expertise as it strives to expand its presence in the generative AI market.
Intel has launched Articul8 as its latest effort to attract outside capital for its business units. The chipmaker has already spun out car chip firm Mobileye and sold off its memory chip division. Furthermore, it plans to conduct an initial public offering of its programmable chip unit.
These spin-outs form part of CEO Pat Gelsinger’s comeback plan, which includes the construction of new chip factories in the U.S.
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Gelsinger plans to introduce new advanced chip manufacturing nodes in Europe within the next four years. Articul8 AI will enable Intel to develop new software products and services, such as AI-powered products, to compete with Nvidia and AMD, thus making Intel hardware more appealing for various applications.
