FILE PHOTO: An Intel logo appears in this illustration taken August 25, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An Apple logo appears in this illustration created on August 25, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

(Reuters) -Intel has approached Apple about securing an investment in the struggling chipmaker, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The iPhone maker and Intel have also discussed how to work more closely together, the report said, adding that the talks are at an early stage and may not lead to an agreement. Shares of Intel closed 6% higher after the news.

Intel declined to comment, while Apple did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

The report comes days after Nvidia announced it would invest $5 billion in Intel for a roughly 4% stake in the company.

Nvidia's pact with Intel includes a plan for the two companies to jointly develop PC and data center chips, but crucially, will not involve Intel's contract manufacturing business - or foundry - making computing chips for Nvidia.

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan has been trying to bring in partners as part of a turnaround at the ailing chipmaker.

Once the chip industry's flag bearer that claimed to put the "silicon" in Silicon Valley, Intel has struggled to compete in the booming AI race, falling behind peers such as Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices.

The investment from Nvidia came just weeks after the White House engineered an extraordinary deal for the federal government to take a 10% stake in Intel, an agreement that would ensure the company receives about $10 billion in funds for building or expanding factories in the U.S.

Intel also received another $2 billion equity investment from SoftBank Group last month.

The cash infusions in Intel have pushed up investor sentiment, with the stock climbing more than 40% since mid-August.

The reported investment from Apple would come as another vote of confidence for Intel. Apple had been a longtime customer of Intel before it transitioned to using its own custom-designed silicon chips from 2020.

For Apple, which relies heavily on Intel's rival TSMC to manufacture its chips, the new partnership would allow it to diversify its chipmaking supplier base - a move that could be valuable if geopolitical risks in Taiwan worsen due to China's role in the region.

The potential investment in the United States would also help strengthen Apple's relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump. While much of Apple's supply chain remains international, the company has committed about $600 billion to domestic initiatives over the next four years.

In response to a Reuters query on whether the Trump administration had conversations with Intel or Apple about an investment, and if it would support such a deal, White House spokesperson Kush Desai said, "The U.S. Government is not involved in Intel's day-to-day operations."

"The taxpayer has an equity stake in Intel succeeding, and the Administration supports iconic American companies like Intel doing what's best to cement American tech dominance."

Striking lucrative partnerships and persuading outside clients to use Intel's factories remain key to its future. The Santa Clara, California-based company has also reached out to other companies about possible investments and partnerships, according to the Bloomberg News report.

(Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)