Intel Wants to Revive US Chipmaking. It Has to Catch Up First

Intel's plans, announced Tuesday, to spend $20 billion to build new chip-making factories aimed to show that the company, and the US, are serious about regaining global leadership in a crucial technology. But the news also highlighted how far Intel, and the US, have fallen behind. As part of its plan, Intel said it would open its factories more widely to make chips for other companies, highlighting its manufacturing expertise and ambition. But at the same time, Intel said it would outsource production of some of its most advanced chips to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. TSMC is ahead of Intel in using extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) to put more computer power on a chip by squeezing transistors closer together.