### Intel and AMD Collaborate to Enhance x86 Architecture Consistency

Intel and AMD are working together to streamline the x86 instruction set architecture (ISA). On Tuesday, the two tech giants revealed the formation of an ecosystem advisory group aimed at ensuring greater consistency between their respective x86 implementations.

Although Intel and AMD have co-developed the x86-64 instruction for many years, there have been instances where software compatibility hasn't been seamless between their products. This has led to inefficiencies and discrepancies over time. Forrest Norrod, AMD's EVP of datacenter solutions, noted during a press briefing that while x86 is a strong ecosystem and a de facto standard, the collaboration between Intel and AMD has been somewhat distant, causing these issues.

A significant example of compatibility challenges has been with advanced vector extensions (AVX). Until the Zen 4 release in 2022, AMD did not support AVX-512, a feature that Intel platforms had long provided. Even then, AMD used a 256-bit data path to support AVX-512, which wasn't fully addressed until Zen 5 introduced a complete 512-bit data path this year.

To prevent such inconsistencies in the future, Intel, AMD, and their industrial allies, including Broadcom, Dell, Google, HPE, HP, Lenovo, Meta, Microsoft, Oracle, Red Hat, Linux kernel-developer Linus Torvalds, and Epic's Tim Sweeney, will work together under this advisory group. Their mission is to reshape the x86 ISA, making it more uniform and better suited to handle the evolving demands of emerging technologies.

Intel's EVP of datacenter and AI group, Justin Hotard, emphasized that this initiative aims to enhance performance, flexibility, and compatibility across both hardware and software platforms. Norrod added that while this will eventually provide users with greater product choices and reduced friction, the changes in silicon development will take months or even years to materialize in consumer products.

This collaboration holds numerous benefits for end users, as it will theoretically simplify software development and reduce the specialization required to utilize Intel or AMD products effectively. However, the long-term implications for the once fierce rivals could be profound, particularly in areas like CPU-based AI inference acceleration where Intel currently leads with its advanced matrix extensions (AMX).

Both companies remained cautious about committing to specific changes in the x86 architecture. Still, recent moves, especially from Intel, hint at a more streamlined future. For example, Intel's update to its x86S specification aims to strip down legacy bloat by removing 32-bit and 16-bit execution modes, while maintaining compatibility for 32-bit code. Additionally, the AVX10 specification proposes a unified feature set that supports critical functions and standardizes register widths.

This ongoing collaboration between Intel and AMD, alongside key industry partners, marks a significant step towards a more unified and efficient x86 ecosystem, promising substantial benefits for both developers and end users in the years to come.