Intel Approaches Apple for Investment in Comeback Bid [Report]

Intel has approached Apple about a potential investment as the chipmaker works to bolster its turnaround bid, according to a new report from Bloomberg. The talks are described as early stage and may not lead to a deal, but they highlight Intel's push to line up new partners and funding.

Citing people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg says Apple and Intel have also discussed ways to work more closely together. The outreach follows a $5 billion investment from Nvidia last week and a $2 billion investment from SoftBank last month. Intel, now partially owned by the U.S. government after a Trump-era deal gave Washington a roughly 10% stake, is attempting a comeback under new CEO Lip-Bu Tan.

A deal with Apple would represent a significant new chapter in the long and sometimes strained relationship between the two companies. Apple relied on Intel chips in its Macs for years before starting the transition to Apple silicon in 2020. It also acquired most of Intel's modem business in 2019, paving the way for its own in-house 5G modems.


Still, the report notes it's unlikely Apple would reverse course and return to Intel processors. Instead, any potential investment would align with Apple's broader domestic spending push. The company recently boosted its U.S. investment commitment to $600 billion over four years, including a $2.5 billion expansion of its deal with Corning, its longtime glass supplier.

Intel continues to face steep challenges. Once the dominant chipmaker, it has lost ground to rivals like AMD and Nvidia, laid off workers, and slowed factory expansion. The company has also struggled to secure enough customers to support its foundry ambitions, telling investors it would only roll out a new 14A production technique if clients committed to using it.

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently told CNBC's Jim Cramer that competition in the chip foundry space would be healthy. "We'd love to see Intel come back," he said.

An Intel representative declined to comment on the report, while Apple did not respond to a request for comment. Please download the iClarified app or follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and RSS for more updates.