SoftBank Invests 2 Billion Dollars in Intel: A Boost for AI Ambitions
tokio, woensdag, 20 augustus 2025.
Japanese tech investor SoftBank has invested 2 billion dollars in American chip manufacturer Intel, yielding a stake of approximately 2%. This investment comes at a crucial time as Intel grapples with competition in the AI sector and undergoes a significant reorganisation. SoftBank’s CEO Masayoshi Son views the investment as a step towards the development of superintelligence and the strengthening of American chip production. Intel’s shares reacted positively, rising by more than 5% in after-hours trading.
SoftBank’s Strategic Move
The Japanese tech investor SoftBank has invested 2 billion dollars in American chip manufacturer Intel, yielding a stake of approximately 2%. This investment comes at a crucial time as Intel grapples with competition in the AI sector and undergoes a significant reorganisation. SoftBank’s CEO Masayoshi Son views the investment as a step towards the development of superintelligence and the strengthening of American chip production. Intel’s shares reacted positively, rising by more than 5% in after-hours trading [1][2][3].
Context and Background
Intel, once a dominant player in the chip industry, has faced increased competition in recent years, particularly in semiconductors for artificial intelligence applications. The company reported a net loss of 18.8 billion dollars in 2024, its first loss since 1986 [4]. New CEO Lip-Bu Tan, who took office at the beginning of 2025, must stabilise the company following a period of underperformance and leadership changes [4].
Market Reaction and Future Outlook
The market reacted positively to SoftBank’s investment. Intel’s shares rose by more than 5% in after-hours trading, indicating strong confidence in the company’s future [2]. SoftBank’s investment is seen as a critical source of capital for Intel to finance its AI ambitions and reorganisation. Additionally, this move fits into a broader strategy by SoftBank to heavily invest in technology, including a 30 billion dollar investment in OpenAI and participation in a 500 billion dollar AI infrastructure project with OpenAI and Oracle [5][6].
Strategic Collaboration
SoftBank’s CEO Masayoshi Son emphasised that the investment aligns with the vision of advanced semiconductor production growing further in the United States, with Intel at the core. Intel’s CEO Lip-Bu Tan sees the transaction as a confirmation of close collaboration and describes SoftBank as a partner committed to promoting innovation and American technological leadership [5]. This strategic partnership could be crucial for the future development and implementation of AI technologies.
Government Support and Future Investments
In addition to SoftBank’s investment, there are signals that the U.S. government may take a 10% stake in Intel to boost domestic chip production. The CHIPS Act funding commitments include up to 7.87 billion dollars in federal subsidies for Intel’s American factory expansion [4]. This combination of private and public investments could provide a strong impetus to the American chip industry and the development of advanced AI technologies.