Intel stock jumps 22% on AI chip demand surge — shares poised to hit highest price since 2000

Intel's share price surged more than 22% in premarket trading Friday, reaching approximately $81 per share. If the gain holds through market close, the stock will break its all-time record set during the dotcom bubble in 2000, adding roughly $75.3 billion to the company's market value. The jump was triggered by Intel's upbeat revenue forecast for chips needed to run advanced AI models (machine learning software like ChatGPT).

The rally reflects a fundamental shift in what computer processors are built for: Intel traditionally dominated CPUs (the general-purpose chips in laptops and servers) but had fallen behind NVIDIA in the AI chip race. This earnings call signals Intel is now capturing significant orders from cloud providers and companies building AI infrastructure — meaning Intel's older, mature business is becoming relevant again in the AI era.

For business professionals and investors, this matters because Intel's resurgence affects the entire AI supply chain. If Intel succeeds in recapturing market share from NVIDIA, it could lower prices for AI infrastructure, make it cheaper for startups to build AI applications, and reshape which tech stocks are safe long-term bets. For job seekers, Intel's momentum may signal hiring and investment returning to legacy chip manufacturing after years of focus on newer AI-native companies.