The artificial intelligence (AI) boom is entering a new phase, and this time, the battle is moving deeper into the data center. It is no longer simply about who can build the fastest AI accelerator. Hyperscalers are scrambling for more compute, faster connectivity, and better power efficiency as AI workloads continue to grow at a breakneck pace. That is opening the door for chipmakers that can deliver customized, energy-efficient solutions at scale.
Qualcomm (QCOM) wants a seat at that table. The company just landed a major multi-generational collaboration with Amazon (AMZN) to supply customized silicon, systems, and related technology for large-scale AI data centers, with a focus on inference. The partnership also extends into high-speed optical connectivity, an increasingly critical piece of the AI infrastructure puzzle.