Intel's stock saw a slight increase on Friday following reports that its foundry business has secured a significant artificial intelligence client, widely speculated to be Microsoft, for its advanced 18A manufacturing process. The deal is reportedly for Microsoft's next-generation Maia 2 AI accelerator chips, a critical component of its Azure cloud infrastructure. This development is a major validation of Intel's strategy to become a major player in the contract chip manufacturing market, a sector long dominated by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). The news follows a February 2024 announcement where Microsoft was named a key partner for Intel's foundry services, though specific chip details were not disclosed at that time. This reported client win provides a significant boost to Intel's credibility and its efforts to attract more high-volume customers for its most advanced process technology.