‘Sometime in ’26, we’ll have a good..’: Intel CFO on why 2026 is critical year for company's manufacturing technology

Intel’s chief financial officer (CFO) has announced that 2026 will be a decisive year for its manufacturing technology, revealing whether the company is ready to advance its capabilities with a new process. Speaking at Citi's 2025 Global TMT Conference, Intel's CFO Dave Zinsner said the company won't know until 2026 if it's ready to approve a manufacturing method called 14A. This technology is key to Intel's plan to become a leader in the tech world again.“Sometime in ’26, we’ll have a good feel for how things are going,” Zinsner stated. His comment came weeks after the US government announced that it has taken 10% of the company’s ownership.

‘Intel will build new chip manufacturing capacity only if…’

Zinsner reiterated a previous stance that the company would only build 14A manufacturing capacity if it secured commitments from external customers. While he called this position “financial common sense,” the approach has concerned analysts and investors since it was first outlined by CEO Lip-Bu Tan in July. The hesitation to move forward without external demand suggested to some that Intel was wavering on its bid for technological dominance.

When asked about the possibility of other investors taking a stake in Intel’s manufacturing operations, Zinsner said the company was open to it. However, he noted that the recent agreement with the Trump administration requires Intel to maintain a majority position in that business, making outside investment unlikely in the near term.“It’s not inconceivable that we do that,” he said, adding, “I think the likelihood is that it won’t happen anytime soon because it’s not quite investable yet.”Zinsner clarified that the government's stake is a passive holding, and it will align with the board's recommendations. This is contingent on Intel retaining its commitment and majority ownership of its manufacturing operations, he said.