I think a problem with an organization like Intel is you have the ability to r&d nearly whatever you wish. The possibilities seems extreme.
Not many relevant choices and priorities is not open for you.
What do you take as strategic direction then? What is your core?
It seems counterintuitive but in a small company or eg very cash constrained situation like amd was in, only a few possibilities is actually open.
Then its far more easy to see your own core competences and what to make of them. And a lot of product development is also fairly simple.
Ryzen and IF is in hindsight actually pretty straightforward. Its about the only good way to go. They didnt have to worry eg about IOT, Power, avx512 and big dies. It was not relevant - at all.
It looks like threadding a needle. And it is an art comming up from the hole the dug for themselves. But it wasnt impossible to find the way - because most other ways was shut down.