3 men who decided Intel's fate

Intel faces unprecedented difficulties. Photo: Reuters .

Intel, the once dominant chip giant, is in serious trouble. Mr. Trump has just announced an investment of more than $ 8 billion , making the US government the largest shareholder of the chip company. Previously, the technology corporation SoftBank Group announced a $ 2 billion investment in this manufacturer. However, the strategy for Intel after that is still unclear.

According to Nikkei, the future of the "former king" of the chip industry is in the hands of three men. First is US President Donald Trump. His administration has just spent billions of dollars in subsidies to buy Intel shares. Next is Masayoshi Son, the billionaire founder and chairman of SoftBank. He has a close relationship with Trump.

Son is a key figure in the Stargate project, an artificial intelligence investment initiative in the US. Finally, Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan, a former top Silicon Valley venture capitalist. Tan has a long-standing relationship with Son, having served on the board of SoftBank.

SoftBank CEO plays key role in Intel's turnaround efforts. Photo: Reuters.

Of the three, Son seems to be in the middle. Earlier this month, Trump criticized Tan, saying the Intel CEO should resign, underscoring the strained relationship between the two. Meanwhile, Son has maintained a conciliatory tone. There is reason to believe that the Japanese businessman used his connections to secure SoftBank’s investment in Intel.

The fund already owns a stake in Arm, a leading chip designer. It also invested in Nvidia, the current leader in AI chips. Adding Intel to the mix helps Son position the Japanese conglomerate across the entire semiconductor value chain. But the entrepreneur is known for making bold, unrealistic promises, so it’s risky to buy into his plans.

The US government recently acquired a 10% stake in Intel after a $8.9 billion deal. The public fund bought 433.3 million shares at $20.47 per share, which is below the current market price. The deal converts the CHIPS Act grant into equity instead of injecting new cash.

Intel is crucial to the US in the semiconductor wars. It is the only company capable of manufacturing advanced chips on US soil, making it a strategic asset for national security. Most of the world ’s chips are now made on the island of Taiwan.

Source: https://znews.vn/3-nguoi-dan-ong-quyet-dinh-van-menh-intel-post1579632.html