Can you explain why the RISC-V needs to happen? I am not familiar with the chip industry, so I don't understand why the RISC-V will move computing forward and x86/ARM won't move it forward.
Edit: Does it have to do with being open-source?
Edit: Does it have to do with being open-source?
Obviously, RISC-V also needs software support; gcc supports it, Golang has added RISC-V as a target (although it's not yet implemented) and there are several projects working on LLVM (e.g. lowRISC and SiFive's port). Having played around with the Fedora-RISCV port under QEMU, it's actually surprisingly good thus far.
Having an open-source processor design with good software support that anyone can manufacture without royalties is a good thing and will hopefully spur both Intel and ARM into innovation.
Edit: Fwiw, I hope the open source ISA has secondary societal benefits. I'm not skeptical, just pragmatic. Follow the money.