In August 2025, the United States government acquired a significant 10% stake in Intel Corp, purchasing approximately 433 million shares at around $20.47 per share. This acquisition occurred amid rising national security concerns and competition in artificial intelligence with China, as part of efforts to boost domestic semiconductor production. Following a challenging 2024, where Intel experienced a 60% drop in share prices, the company's stock value rebounded dramatically starting in 2026. Intel reported $13.6 billion in revenue for the first quarter of 2026, marking a 7% increase year-on-year, outpacing market forecasts and contributing to a remarkable stock performance that saw shares jump over 125% since the start of the year. This resurgence in share price not only indicates a recovery for Intel but also highlights the substantial paper profit gained by the U.S. government, estimated at $27 billion, thanks to the rise in Intel stock valuation as the shift towards a new wave of artificial intelligence has increased demand for Intel's products. The stock's increase has made Intel one of the defining performers within the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite, nearing price levels last witnessed during the tech boom of the early 2000s. The CEO of Intel, Lip-Bu Tan, underscored this market potential by emphasizing the growing need for the company's CPUs and related technologies in the future landscape of AI.