Core Viewpoint - Intel's board chairman Frank Yeary attempted to split and potentially sell Intel's foundry business to TSMC earlier this year, facing strong opposition from newly appointed CEO Lip-Bu Tan, leading to internal conflicts within the board [2][3]. Group 1: Board Dynamics - The internal conflict within Intel's board arose as some directors supported Yeary's plan, resulting in failures of some strategic initiatives proposed by CEO Tan [2]. - Despite the board's official support for Tan, his leadership is under increasing pressure both internally and externally [2]. Group 2: Proposed Business Moves - There were rumors that Intel planned to spin off its foundry division into an independent company, potentially involving TSMC and other major fabless chip designers as shareholders [3]. - Another rumor suggested that Intel might sell all or part of its foundry to TSMC, which would gain operational and strategic control over the production facilities [3]. Group 3: Technical and Business Feasibility - TSMC has publicly stated that it has no interest in acquiring Intel's foundry or manufacturing assets due to technical challenges and business reasons [5]. - TSMC's employees lack experience with Intel's EUV-based processes, complicating any potential improvements to Intel's manufacturing technology [5]. - The complexity of transferring TSMC's technology to Intel's U.S. foundries is high, as both companies use different tools and processes, which could lead to significant costs and risks [5]. Group 4: Competitive Landscape - TSMC has little incentive to assist a direct competitor in enhancing its chip production capabilities and is not interested in investing billions in a foundry without assurance of profitability [6]. - Intel's EUV capacity in the U.S. is insufficient to meet the demands of both its own and TSMC's customers [6].