# Intel Falls After Musk Confirms ‘Just Discussions’ with TSMC About Terafab

Times of AI Desk · 2026-10-05 · Work

[https://timesof.ai/2026/10/terafab-tsmc-talks-intel-slide](https://timesof.ai/2026/10/terafab-tsmc-talks-intel-slide)

> Over the weekend Elon Musk replied on X to a Culpium note that TSMC is exploring ways to help operate Terafab — the planned Tesla/SpaceX semiconductor plant in Texas where Intel is the only named process partner — saying “Just discussions, but something may come of it.” Business Insider reports Intel fell about 3% at Monday’s open (low $115.31). No deal has been announced. Price figures here are intraday/premarket as reported; the session close was not re-checked.

The news is not a contract. It is a **confirmed conversation** — and a market that priced Intel as Terafab’s hardware winner flinching when **TSMC** entered the frame.

**Over the weekend**, **Elon Musk** replied on X to coverage of a **Culpium** / **Tim Culpan** note that **TSMC** is exploring ways to help operate **Terafab**, the planned **Tesla** / **SpaceX** semiconductor plant (Intel joined in April). Musk wrote: **“Just discussions, but something may come of it.”** Sources disagree on whether the post landed Saturday or Sunday; write it as **over the weekend**. Culpan’s most-likely structure, as quoted by Business Insider: TSMC would **own and operate** the fab with Terafab as anchor customer. **Culpium’s original note was not inspected** here.

## What moved

**Business Insider** (Oct. 5) reports **Intel** dropped about **3%** at the open, dipping to a low of **$115.31**, with shares still up **213%** year to date. BI also notes **TSMC** shares up about **1%** Monday. Secondary market wires in the research digest put Intel more than **4%** lower **premarket** and cite an **Aug. 6** commitment of **$16.8 billion** for phase one and county filings of up to **$119 billion** total — those dollar figures were not re-verified against primary filings for this piece. **No deal has been announced.**

Intel remains the **only named process partner** (its **14A** node) unless and until a TSMC operating role is signed. For now the **stock move** is the news: talks only, Musk’s own softener attached.

## Limits

- Musk post date conflicts across outlets — use **over the weekend**.
- **Culpium** original not inspected; BI quotes Culpan.
- Price figures are **premarket/intraday** as reported; session close not re-checked here.
- **$16.8B / $119B** project figures arrive via secondary digest reporting, not primary county filings re-read for this article.
- Confirmed **discussions** only — not a partnership.

## Sources

- [Business Insider: Intel stock drops after Elon Musk hints Terafab could partner with a rival chipmaker (October 5, 2026)](https://www.businessinsider.com/intel-stock-price-elon-musk-terafab-partner-chips-intc-tsmc-2026-10)
- [Investing.com: Intel stock slides as TSMC explores Terafab tie-up, analyst flags share losses (October 5, 2026)](https://ng.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/intel-stock-slides-as-tsmc-explores-terafab-tieup-analyst-flags-share-losses-2721268)