Former ARM executive Tom Lanstzch will take Davis' previous spot as IoT lead.

It's too soon to say whether or not this is more than a formality, but it's not a shocking strategy. Intel is determined to stay relevant beyond the PC, and that means giving extra attention to categories like autonomy, IoT and wearables. The company can't afford to cede ground in the automotive world, either. NVIDIA is quickly making a name for itself in driverless tech, and a slow response could lead to Intel becoming a bit player in a particularly hot market.