Intel Snags AMD Veteran To Lead Graphics Chips Development, Edge Computing Initiatives

Lindsey O'Donnell

November 09, 2017, 10:10 AM EST

Intel snagged AMD big shot Raja Koduri to lead the company’s newly formed Core and Visual Computing Group, as well as drive initiatives around edge computing.

Intel hopes that Koduri, who will join as chief architect, senior vice president of the Core and Visual Computing Group, and general manager of edge computing solutions, will expand the chip company’s leading position in integrated graphics for the PC market with high-end discrete graphics solutions for a broad range of computing segments.

’We have exciting plans to aggressively expand our computing and graphics capabilities and build on our very strong and broad differentiated IP foundation,’ said Murthy Renduchintala, Intel’s chief engineering officer and group president of Client and Internet of Things Businesses and System Architecture, in a statement. ’With Raja at the helm of our Core and Visual Computing Group, we will add to our portfolio of unmatched capabilities, advance our strategy to lead in computing and graphics, and ultimately be the driving force of the data revolution.’

[Related: Intel Pairs Up With AMD To Develop Powerhouse Chips For Thinner, Lighter Enthusiast Laptops]

Koduri, who will start in the new role in early December, has decades of experience in graphics, most recently serving at AMD as the senior vice president and chief architect of the company’s Radeon Technologies graphics business. The executive has experience with graphics across multiple platforms, including PCs, game consoles, professional workstations and consumer devices.

Koduri also served as director of graphics architecture at Apple for four years, where he helped establish a leadership graphics sub-system for the Mac product family and spearheaded the transition to Retina computer displays.

’I am incredibly excited to join the Intel team and have the opportunity to drive a unified architecture vision across its world-leading IP portfolio that helps accelerate the data revolution,’ Koduri said in a statement.

Intel has been driving investments in the graphics arena as it aims to expand differentiated IP across computing, edge computing and machine intelligence capabilities.

The Santa Clara, Calif.-based company earlier this week said it was pairing up with AMD to help enthusiast laptops become thinner, lighter and "deliver a premium experience" with a new chip that includes technology from both companies – including enhanced graphics capabilities.

Intel partners said a tightened focus around graphics will ultimately benefit end users and consumers in the PC market.

’Clearly, consumers will have more choices and options for products in the notebook market and any time the consumer is the big beneficiary everyone throughout the supply chain will benefit,’ said Kent Tibbils, vice president of marketing at ASI, a Fremont, Calif.-based Intel system builder.