I n the last few weeks, Intel’s stock charged ahead by more than 20% as investors hoped for a breakup of Intel, the United States’ top manufacturer of leading-edge semiconduct

Speculation has swirled for over a week about a potential collaboration between Intel and TSMC, igniting reactions from Intel's current and former employees. Now, four former Intel directors have escalated the debate with a blistering Fortune op-ed,

Former Intel directors say TSMC fabs takeover is a terrible idea, but fab spinoff to a consortium of companies is a good idea.

In a blistering critique, former Intel CEO and Chairman Craig Barrett has strongly opposed breaking the company into separate design and foundry units, arguing that Intel’s recent technological resurgence positions it to challenge TSMC’s dominance in the semiconductor industry without corporate dismantling.

Former Intel CEO Craig Barrett has criticized proposals to split the company, blaming the board for its decline and arguing that firing them and reinstating Pat Gelsinger would be a smarter move as Intel fights to regain its competitive edge against TSMC and Broadcom amid financial struggles and production delays.

In an op-ed published in Fortune, former Intel CEO Craig Barret argues that Intel's future lies not in breaking the company into separate design and manufacturing units, but in restoring strong, experienced leadership at its helm.