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Intel’s $1.6B SambaNova Deal Could Be a Game Changer—or a Gamble!

Intel Corp. is reportedly nearing a $1.6 billion acquisition of artificial intelligence startup SambaNova Systems Inc., marking a potential inflection point in its strategic roadmap to reclaim dominance in the AI and semiconductor space. This potential deal—first reported by Bloomberg—could materialize as early as next month, and would give Intel a foothold in custom AI chip architecture at a steep discount compared to SambaNova’s last valuation of $5 billion in 2021. The move comes on the heels of a transformative year for Intel, highlighted by the U.S. government taking a 10% stake, major equity infusions from NVIDIA and SoftBank, and a public commitment from CEO Lip-Bu Tan to rebuild Intel’s AI, foundry, and inference capabilities. Tan, who also chairs SambaNova’s board, is seen as a critical link bridging the two firms.