Sachin Katti, Intel’s top artificial intelligence executive, has left the semiconductor giant to join OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT. In his new role, Katti will help build and scale the compute infrastructure powering OpenAI’s efforts toward artificial general intelligence (AGI) — systems designed to think and learn like humans. OpenAI President Greg Brockman announced the appointment on X (formerly Twitter), stating that Katti will focus on “designing and building our compute infrastructure,” a critical pillar of the company’s long-term AI roadmap.
Intel confirmed Katti’s departure, adding that CEO Lip-Bu Tan will personally oversee the company’s AI and advanced technology divisions. “AI remains one of Intel’s highest strategic priorities,” the company said, reiterating its commitment to executing its roadmap for emerging AI workloads.
Katti’s move marks a pivotal moment for both companies. For OpenAI, it underscores a deeper investment in custom hardware and infrastructure, a space the company has increasingly focused on to reduce dependence on third-party chipmakers. For Intel, it represents another high-profile leadership shift as it continues its turnaround under Tan’s leadership.
Katti, who joined Intel four years ago, initially led its networking business before taking over AI operations earlier this year. He was promoted to Chief Technology and AI Officer in April 2025 during a major leadership restructuring. Before his corporate career, he spent nearly 15 years at Stanford University, where he taught and conducted research in computer networking and systems design.
Once the dominant force in computer processors, Intel has struggled to keep pace with Nvidia in the high-performance AI chip segment. While Intel’s CPUs remain a key part of AI infrastructure, Nvidia’s GPUs continue to dominate large-scale model training, including systems like ChatGPT. Katti’s exit reflects Intel’s ongoing challenge in retaining top talent amid an increasingly competitive AI landscape.
Under Tan, Intel has been aggressively reorganizing its leadership to drive innovation, including new hires such as Kevork Kechichian from Arm and expanded roles for senior executive Naga Chandrasekaran.
For OpenAI, bringing in a leader with Katti’s hybrid expertise — spanning academia, chip design, and enterprise AI — represents a major step forward. As the company scales its models and applications, Katti’s leadership will be instrumental in building the next generation of computing power that could shape the evolution of truly human-like AI.
