Intel axes IDF 2017 as a sign of the changing times

Intel has been hosting the annual Intel Developer Forum for the past 20 years where hardware announcements and product showcases have been commonplace. Now, the chipmaker is officially retiring the week-long event with no plans to reintroduce the trade show in the near future.

According to the first-hand report from AnandTech, the cancellation was driven by a changing focus to the "internet of Things". Traditionally, Intel has been seen as a PC and processor manufacturer, but the company also wants to branch out more to artificial intelligence, self-driving cars, wireless communication, and other areas of interest. Unfortunately, the yearly IDF events and related keynotes do not fall within Intel's vision and the seemingly abrupt cancellation may be a shock to regular attendees. Intel will soon be announcing a series of smaller events in its place that will focus on a wider variety of topics outside of whatever the next Core ix platform or hot new consumer product may be.

Both San Francisco and Shenzhen have been homes to IDF events. Last year's IDF in San Francisco, which can now be considered the last of its kind, was already heavily focused on IoT, automotive, Optane, and smart clothing rather than PCs and raw processing power. It's understandable that Intel will be thinning its PC lineup due to wider opportunities elsewhere.

Source(s)