Intel Launches Articul8 AI, an Enterprise Generative AI Company

Intel in the beginning of its generative AI focused year, has revealed the creation of a new platform company named Articul8 AI. Backed by Boca Raton, Florida-based asset manager and investor DigitalBridge, the initiative stems from a proof-of-concept developed through Intel's collaboration with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in May of the previous year.

Intel utilised its hardware along with a combination of open-source and internally sourced software to craft a generative AI system capable of processing text and images. The system, initially designed over a two-year period within Intel, was further fine-tuned to meet BCG's specific security requirements.

Read: What is Intel’s AI Plan for 2024

While BCG initially served as the exclusive supplier and customer of the system, Intel has been actively working to scale the platform over the past few months. The platform, optimised for Intel hardware but compatible with alternatives, is targeted at industries such as financial services, aerospace, semiconductor, telecommunications, and others with high-security and specialised domain knowledge needs.

“With its deep AI and HPC domain knowledge and enterprise-grade GenAI deployments, Articul8 is well positioned to deliver tangible business outcomes for Intel and our broader ecosystem of customers and partners. As Intel accelerates AI everywhere, we look forward to our continued collaboration with Articul8," said Pat Gelsinger, Intel CEO.

Arun Subramaniyan, formerly a VP and GM at Intel’s data centre and AI group, has been appointed as the CEO of Articul8. The spinout will consist mainly of ex-Intel employees, and Intel will retain an undisclosed stake in the newly formed company.

Now, Justin Hotard will be the executive vice president and general manager of Intel's Data Center and AI Group.

Apart from Intel and DigitalBridge, Articul8's investors include Fin Capital, Mindset Ventures, Communitas Capital, GiantLeap Capital, GS Futures, and Zain Group.

According to a spokesperson, Intel and Articul8 will remain strategically aligned, with plans to leverage Articul8’s enterprise gen AI software for internal use cases and as part of a joint go-to-market partnership with end customers. 

This move is part of Intel’s broader strategy to seek outside capital for business units, following previous spinouts such as Mobileye and the sale of its memory chip division. The company also intends an eventual initial public offering of its programmable chip unit. These strategic manoeuvres align with Gelsinger’s comeback plan, involving the expansion of chip factories in the U.S. and Europe and the introduction of advanced chip manufacturing nodes within the next four years.