Intel Is No Longer the World’s Biggest Chip Maker

For almost 25 years, Intel has proudly led the semiconductor industry. Not any more, at least by one measure: Samsung’s chip unit now generates more revenue than the American firm. Samsung’s gain is driven in large part by its sale of memory chips, which are currently in high demand. That means that its lead is likely to persist for some time. The news is another blow to the wider U.S. processor industry, which is also facing stiff competition from China and squaring up to the challenges faced by the death of Moore’s Law. A government task force of industry experts hopes to reinvigorate the flagging American semiconductor industry by identifying the most promising new technologies and establishing the best strategic investment opportunities across the country. But Intel’s fall from the top of the tree means those moves can’t come soon enough.