Zhi Tong Cai Jing·2025-10-31 00:33Core Viewpoint - Intel is in preliminary talks to acquire AI chip startup SambaNova Systems, with potential valuation below $5 billion from its 2021 funding round [1][2] Group 1: Acquisition Talks - Intel is negotiating with SambaNova regarding an acquisition, with SambaNova having previously engaged bankers to gauge interest from potential buyers [1] - The talks are in early stages, and it is uncertain if an agreement will be reached, with the possibility of other buyers emerging [1] Group 2: Company Background - SambaNova was founded in 2017 by Stanford professors, one of whom is a MacArthur Genius Grant recipient, and designs custom AI chips to compete with Nvidia's products [1][2] - The company has shifted focus to inference processing, running developed models, as it faces competition from Nvidia in the AI processor market [2] Group 3: Financial and Operational Insights - SambaNova's valuation reached $5 billion after a $676 million funding round led by SoftBank in 2021 [2] - The company has pivoted to emphasize its own hardware for inference processing, offering both cloud services and on-premises solutions [2] - In April of this year, SambaNova laid off approximately 15% of its workforce [2]