[News] Intel Recruits Qualcomm and AMD GPU Veteran Eric Demers to Advance AI Push

Intel has brought in a veteran GPU architect to strengthen its AI efforts. According to Tom’s Hardware, Eric Demers, who designed many of the leading GPUs at ATI Technologies, later acquired by AMD, and went on to lead Qualcomm’s GPU designs, has joined Intel with a focus on AI. Demers will serve as SVP of GPU Architecture at Intel, as indicated in his LinkedIn post.

As head of Qualcomm’s GPU initiatives, Demers oversaw the hardware and architectural development of the company’s Adreno GPUs, which were deployed across mobile devices, PCs, IoT platforms, automotive systems, and augmented and virtual reality applications, CRN notes. CRN also highlights that before joining Qualcomm in 2012, Demers served as CTO of AMD’s graphics division, having joined the company through its 2006 acquisition of ATI Technologies.

Demers joins Intel as the company expands its GPU roadmap across consumer, data center, and AI segments. According to Igor’s Lab, Intel is pursuing a broader product strategy built around architectures including Xe, Xe2, and the newly introduced Xe3 generation.

Meanwhile, as highlighted by Times of India, the Qualcomm veteran marks the second high-profile hire by Intel in recent months, following the addition of former TSMC SVP Wei‑Jen Lo, who joined the company last year.

Intel Presses Ahead With AI Accelerators Despite Setbacks

As CRN notes, Intel has struggled for more than a decade to establish a successful AI accelerator strategy, most recently underscored by its failure to meet a modest $500 million revenue target for its Gaudi chips in 2024.

Under Lip-Bu Tan, who became Intel’s CEO last March, AI has been elevated to a top strategic priority, particularly in the data center market. As CRN reports, Intel last fall unveiled the first GPU under this roadmap, a 160GB energy-efficient data center GPU code-named Crescent Island, and has also teased the development of the Jaguar Shores accelerator aimed at rack-scale solutions. However, Intel encountered a setback, CRN adds, when Sachin Katti, whom Tan had appointed to lead the company’s newly independent AI Group, left last November to join OpenAI.

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(Photo credit: Intel)