Intel Corp., the chip pioneer that's now partly owned by the US government, told investors that 2026 will be a critical year for its manufacturing technology and should show whether it's ready to move ahead with a more advanced process. The company won't know until then whether it's ready to green-light a method called 14A, Chief Financial Officer Dave Zinsner said at a technology conference. Achieving this milestone has long been touted as a key piece of Intel's turnaround plan.