Intel has granted Rosaic Labs Inc. access to its "Atom" CPU intellectual property, a rare move in the semiconductor industry. Rosaic will license the register-transfer level (RTL) code, which defines the CPU parts. Intel's Atom CPUs historically served entry-level and low-power tasks, including networking equipment, and use the x86-64 instruction set. The Atom portfolio has shrunk as Intel shifts focus, with its last "Tremont" microarchitecture appearing in "Elkhart Lake" and "Jasper Lake" silicon for embedded and low-power devices. Intel has since moved to "Gracemont"-based E-Cores, which are successors to Atom cores.

It's unclear which specific Atom IP Rosaic will receive, but it could be the "Tremont" generation or newer, enabling the startup to begin x86 silicon manufacturing. Rosaic is reportedly seeking $10 million to fund its chip ambitions, potentially focused on low-power x86 designs. Notably, Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan and Rosaic's CEO are known co-investors, having previously backed Rivos Inc., which Meta acquired for approximately $2 billion. This licensing move suggests Intel's strategy to proliferate its x86 IP rather than allowing competitors to develop alternatives on different instruction sets.