This seems to be Intel trying to stop the bleeding vs AMD in DC by adding nvlink integration
Basically Intel is the new mediatek (with some additional packaging capabilities)
Looking for an edge in asymmetric fashion is a good out of the box thinking. Only reason Intel is doing this is because it is kind of dark in the box. Without NVidia keeping Intel afloat (even before this deal), Intel's prospects in the datacenter CPU were not great. Especially with hyperscalers.
I have not heard what percentage of Intel's sale to hyperscalers are due to being in NVidia reference designs. Probably high enough number, meaning Intel has no choice but to do what NVidia wants.