Intel updates mysterious ‘software-defined silicon’ code in the Linux kernel
This reminds me of a story told to me by a work colleague who began his career on Mainframes in the late 70s. One work place he was at paid several million for a major upgrade to their IBM mainframe.  A guy in a white lab coat showed up, took the side panel off the mainframe, removed a circuit board and gave them a piece of paper to sign saying the job was complete.