Intel Corporation (INTC.US) plans to invest an additional $15 million in AI chip company SambaNova, increasing its stake to 9% under the CEO's ownership.

According to reports, Intel Corporation (INTC.US) plans to add an additional $15 million investment in the artificial intelligence chip startup company SambaNova Systems, bringing its stake in the company to approximately 9%. This investment still needs regulatory approval. This chip manufacturer's latest investment plan is unrelated to the collaboration plan in February 2026. In the February 2026 collaboration plan, Intel Corporation, along with partners such as SoftBank, participated in a larger funding round for SambaNova. Earlier in February, Intel Corporation invested $35 million, increasing its stake from 6.8% to 8.2%, and announced a "strategic partnership" with SambaNova. This investment will increase Intel Corporation's stake in SambaNova to about 9%. SambaNova is dedicated to designing artificial intelligence inference and training chips and software, while Intel Corporation is using this collaboration to drive the development of its own artificial intelligence cloud and data center products. At the end of last year, Intel Corporation and SambaNova signed a non-binding letter of intent for acquisition, but it ultimately did not materialize. Intel Corporation's CEO, Lee-Wen Chen, has a close relationship with SambaNova. He invested in the company through his venture capital firm, Walden International, and has been its chairman since 2017. This has raised questions about corporate governance, but also highlights the alignment of Intel Corporation's artificial intelligence chip strategy with this startup company. Lee-Wen Chen's other investment projects include OPAQUE Systems, EPIC Microsystems, and 3D Glass Solutions. His multiple roles have raised concerns about corporate governance, and the Intel Corporation board has previously vetoed similar transactions involving companies in its investment portfolio.