The Departure of Sachin Katti

On November 10, 2025, the tech world was abuzz with news of Sachin Katti, Intel’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and head of its AI and Advanced Technologies Groups, joining OpenAI. Announced via a post on X by Greg Brockman, OpenAI’s President, Katti’s transition marks a significant loss for Intel, where he had served since April 2021, leading networking, edge computing, and AI strategies. His new role at OpenAI will focus on designing and building compute infrastructure to support the organization’s pursuit of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).

“Very grateful for the tremendous opportunity and experience at Intel over the last 4 years leading networking, edge computing and AI,” Katti reportedly stated on X, reflecting on his tenure.

Source: X Post by Greg Brockman (@gdb), 21:31 UTC, November 10, 2025

Intel’s response, as reported by CRN, confirmed Katti’s departure, with CEO Lip-Bu Tan stepping in to oversee the AI and Advanced Technologies Groups. The company emphasized that “AI remains one of Intel’s highest strategic priorities,” but the move raises questions about internal stability, especially given Intel’s recent struggles to meet its $500 million revenue target for Gaudi AI chips in 2024.

The SambaNova Acquisition Speculation

Coinciding with Katti’s exit, speculation has intensified around Intel’s potential acquisition of SambaNova Systems, an AI chip startup valued at approximately $5 billion. Bloomberg reported on October 30, 2025, that Intel was in preliminary talks to acquire SambaNova, which has been exploring suitors with the help of bankers. X user @Alex_Intel_ suggested that Katti’s departure “pretty much cements” this deal, proposing that Intel might leverage the acquisition to bolster its inference capabilities—a critical area where it lags behind competitors like Nvidia and AMD.

The hypothesis is that SambaNova’s executive team, including CEO Rodrigo Liang, could form the new leadership backbone for Intel’s AI efforts, filling the void left by Katti. An “acqui-hire” model is speculated, with executives potentially bound by four-year contracts tied to the sale proceeds, as noted in an X reply by @pers0naluni0n.

Lip-Bu Tan, with his extensive background in semiconductor investments and leadership at Walden International, is seen as a key figure who could facilitate this transition. His recent appointment as Intel’s CEO in March 2025 and his focus on AI and ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits) align with SambaNova’s expertise in scalable AI hardware.

Industry Implications

Katti’s move to OpenAI, a for-profit entity since its 2023 restructuring, has sparked debate about its mission to “benefit everyone,” as criticized by X user @CodyAlanAllred. This shift underscores a broader talent war in the AI sector, with companies like OpenAI, Nvidia, and AMD aggressively recruiting top engineers and executives. AMD’s recent appointment of Saurabh Kulkarni as Corporate Vice President of Datacenter GPU Product Management (announced on November 10, 2025, via X) further highlights this competition.

For Intel, the loss of Katti—combined with its retooling of the data center AI strategy—could signal a pivot toward acquisitions like SambaNova to regain market share. However, the success of such a move depends on retaining talent and integrating SambaNova’s technology, particularly its focus on hyper-scaler IP, as suggested by @XYang2023 on X.

Meanwhile, the industry watches closely. If Intel acquires SambaNova, it could reshape the AI chip landscape, challenging Nvidia’s dominance. Yet, as @schamorro357 noted on X, the terms of Katti’s departure will be critical—whether it’s amicable could influence future collaborations between Intel and OpenAI.

Conclusion

As of November 10, 2025, Sachin Katti’s transition from Intel to OpenAI marks a pivotal moment in the AI and semiconductor industries. Coupled with rumors of an Intel-SambaNova acquisition, this development suggests a strategic reshuffling to address Intel’s competitive lag. With Lip-Bu Tan at the helm and potential new leadership from SambaNova, Intel’s next moves could redefine its role in the AI era. The tech community, as reflected on X, remains divided—optimistic about innovation but skeptical of corporate motives.