Intel has provided the start-up RosaicLabs with its Atom processor technology and RTL code, which enables the design of custom chips based on the x86 architecture. This is a rare move, as the company has strictly controlled access to its processor cores for decades.
Rosaic was founded in May 2026 and operates in confidential mode. It is led by Amarjit Gill, a long-standing co-investor of Intel’s CEO, Lip-Bu Tan. The terms of the licence and the planned product have not been disclosed. Intel declined to comment.
Atom is a family of energy-efficient processors used, amongst other things, in edge devices, networking equipment and compact systems. Access to the RTL code gives Rosaic the ability to tailor the design in depth, for example to specific requirements regarding performance, power consumption and temperature.
The deal is part of a wider shift at Intel. The company aims to develop custom chip design services, strengthen the x86 ecosystem and attract external customers for its technologies and foundries. In 2025, Intel spent $13.8 billion on research and development, but it continues to face competition from Arm-based chips and the high costs of expanding its manufacturing business.
The deal could serve as a test of a new model for monetising intellectual property. The success of Rosaic could encourage Intel to grant further licences and expand the reach of x86 in edge devices and AI systems. At the same time, the business relationships of those involved in the transaction are raising expectations regarding the transparency of its terms.
Amid the investment boom in AI, but also growing concerns about infrastructure costs, the market will assess this collaboration primarily in terms of its commercial outcomes.
