Intel's then-CEO, according to reports, could have bought $1 billion worth of OpenAI seven year ago but he thought it would not pay off.

We've all missed some big opportunities. Hindsight really is 20/20, etc. Intel has made a few mistakes in the "long-term vision" stakes, but one of the most costly might have been to reject OpenAI.

Reuters reported that four sources revealed that Intel executives discussed several options to work with OpenAI over a period of months in 2017 and 2018. This included buying a 15% stake for $1 billion.

Two sources also stated that Intel could potentially take an additional 15% stake if it provides hardware to the company at cost.

Sources told Reuters at the time that then-CEO Bob Swan did not think generative AI models were going to be on the market soon, and therefore the investment would not pay off - at least in the time frame Intel wanted.

OpenAI's reported market value is now around $80 billion dollars. This investment would be worth about $12 billion. Not to mention that Intel would be at the forefront of generative AI research.

OpenAI was interested in an investment to reduce its dependence on Nvidia chips and build its own infrastructure. This potential deal didn't work out as either company had hoped. While Intel could have invested early in one of AI companies that have benefited most from the current AI boom. OpenAI is still looking for outside investment to design, manufacture and market its own AI acceleration hardware.

A real opportunity was missed by both parties. OpenAI, while it has been a darling in the AI world and one of the most talked-about businesses of recent times, is not looking so good for the company according to some reports.

OpenAI is reportedly spending $700,000 a day to run ChatGPT. This staggering amount has been attributed to Nvidia's AI server costs. Who knows what would have happened if Intel had invested in OpenAI's hardware development.

AI generation is a good thing. Intel didn't do anything stupid, like refuse to make chips for iPhones. Oh. Oh, no! Another opportunity has been missed.

I know, hindsight and so on. Intel's management seems to have struggled in the last decade to make the right decisions. Intel's current CEO Pat Gelsinger also seemed to agree. However, since his tenure, the ship has not turned out the way he might have hoped. Intel has been plagued by CPU crashing problems, mass-layoffs and cancelled shareholder dividends.

What once seemed to be an unbeatable giant in the tech industry is now in serious trouble. Poor long-term plans, missed opportunities and bad decisions. Intel is still a tech giant, but you have to wonder how many bad decisions it will make before it ends up on rocky beaches.