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SoftBank is investing $2 billion in Intel as part of its AI bet

Intel sign on building
SoftBank plans to invest $2 billion in Intel common stock. Ying Tang/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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SoftBank is betting big on semiconductors in the age of AI.

The investment holding company is investing $2 billion in Intel common stock, the companies announced on Monday. Under the agreement, SoftBank will pay $23 per share.

"This strategic investment reflects our belief that advanced semiconductor manufacturing and supply will further expand in the United States, with Intel playing a critical role," Masayoshi Son, the chairman and CEO of SoftBank, said in a statement.

Intel said in a statement that SoftBank's investment "builds upon its long-term vision of enabling the AI revolution."

Intel and SoftBank did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

SoftBank has heavily invested in AI, positioning itself as a major backer of OpenAI.

Intel, a producer of semiconductors, or chips, which are critical for powering AI, saw its stock surge on Friday after Bloomberg reported the US government was considering taking a stake in the company.

Earlier last week, President Donald Trump praised Intel's CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, after previously criticizing him and calling for his resignation.

Shares of SoftBank gained at the open on Tuesday before falling sharply. They were trading 4.4% lower at 10 a.m. local time in Tokyo.

Intel's stock was trading up after hours on Monday.

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Kelsey Vlamis
Kelsey Vlamis is a senior reporter for Business Insider, where she covers business and tech news. She also writes business stories about travel, luxury, and culture. Previously, she covered the environment, outdoors, and indigenous issues.Her feature story "Disaster at 18,200 feet" received awards from the New York Press Club and the North American Travel Journalists Association, as well as honorable mention from the Society of American Travel Writers. She has also received an American Journalism Online Award for her coverage on missing and murdered Indigenous people in Wyoming.She's appeared on CBS, NPR, NBC, and other outlets to discuss her reporting. She previously worked on the world news desk at the BBC in London and received a master's in journalism from Northwestern University.She can be reached by email at kvlamis@bjinnox.com or via the encrypted-messaging app Signal at kelseyv.21.