Intel Moves Closer to Acquiring AI Chip Startup SambaNova, Signs Term Sheet: Report

Taiwan has invoked its National Security Law to safeguard trade secrets of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) following the departure of an executive to Intel, raising concerns about potential threats to national security. This move underscores the government's commitment to protecting its critical technology assets.

Lip-Bu Tan's dual roles as CEO of Intel and a venture capitalist have raised concerns within the tech industry, leading to the departure of four former Intel executives who cited conflicts of interest as a significant factor in their exits. This situation has sparked discussions about the implications of such dual roles in corporate governance and decision-making.

Lip-Bu Tan, appointed as Intel's CEO in March, is also a seasoned venture capitalist, leading to questions about the prioritization of his dual roles. His extensive experience in venture capital since 1987 adds complexity to his responsibilities at Intel, particularly as the company navigates a competitive semiconductor landscape.

Intel has signed a term sheet to acquire chip startup SambaNova, marking a significant step in its expansion within the semiconductor industry. This agreement indicates Intel's strategic interest in enhancing its capabilities in AI and advanced computing technologies.

Intel has confirmed the upcoming release of its "Big Battlemage" GPU, with the Arc B770 expected to debut at CES 2026. This announcement follows the recent appearance of the G31 on Intel's official website, indicating its support for the company's performance analysis tool, VTune Profiler.

The Trump administration has approved Nvidia's sale of H200 artificial intelligence chips to China, allowing the company to proceed with exports contingent upon a 25% profit cut to the U.S. government. This decision follows extensive negotiations and reflects a significant shift in U.S. policy regarding technology exports to China.

Tata and Intel have formed an alliance to develop a silicon and compute ecosystem in India, focusing on the manufacturing and packaging of Intel products at Tata Electronics' upcoming facilities. This collaboration aims to enhance India's semiconductor capabilities and foster local production.

President Trump announced that the U.S. government will adopt the same approach that allowed Nvidia to export its H200 artificial intelligence chips to China for other American companies like AMD and Intel. This decision follows extensive negotiations and reflects a shift in export policy towards China.