Intel Strikes Deal With a Chip Start-Up Its C.E.O. Invested In

Intel has reached a multiyear technical partnership with SambaNova Systems, a nine-year-old semiconductor start-up that its chief executive, Lip-Bu Tan, helped fund and serves as chairman. The companies said they will work on developing a cloud A.I. service run by SambaNova, and Intel will contribute an undisclosed amount to a $350 million funding round it announced alongside a new line of A.I.

chips. Intel had previously discussed buying SambaNova. The deal has drawn attention to Mr. Tan’s multiple roles. Intel said he recused himself from talks involving SambaNova and that negotiations were overseen by Kevork Kechichian, who joined Intel in September as executive vice president in charge of its data center group.

"We have well-established governance procedures to ensure decisions are made in Intel’s best interests," a company spokesman said. With Nvidia dominant in A.I. chips, SambaNova and other start-ups have taken years to gain traction, and some large customers are moving to reduce dependence on a single supplier.

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