Intel once had the opportunity to invest in OpenAI but passed on it because the then-CEO believed generative AI would not be viable in the short term. This became one of Intel's series of strategic mistakes in the AI era.
According to insiders, about 7 years ago, Intel discussed acquiring a 15% stake in OpenAI for $1 billion, with the potential to gain an additional 15% by manufacturing hardware for OpenAI at cost. However, then-CEO Swan believed generative AI would not recoup investments in the short term, and ultimately did not pursue the deal.
This led to Intel missing out on the AI wave. Currently, OpenAI is valued at about $80 billion, while Intel's market value has fallen below $100 billion for the first time, far behind NVIDIA and AMD.
Reasons for Intel's failure in the AI field include:
- Failing to present a coherent product strategy to customers
- Overreliance on CPUs, ignoring the advantages of GPUs in AI
- Engineers considering competitors' GPU architectures "ugly"
- Multiple unsuccessful acquisitions and in-house development of AI chips
An Intel spokesperson stated that the company plans to launch its third-generation Gaudi AI chip in the third quarter of this year, with performance surpassing competitors. However, analysts believe Intel will still struggle to impact NVIDIA and AMD in the rapidly expanding AI market.
Intel needs to adjust its strategy and present a clear AI product roadmap to rise again in the AI era.