Qualcomm acquires MovianAI to bolster edge AI capabilities across device spectrum

Qualcomm’s strategic acquisition of MovianAI from Vietnam’s Vingroup marks a significant escalation in the chipmaker’s push to dominate generative AI capabilities for edge devices. This move, following its recent purchase of tinyML specialist Edge Impulse, signals Qualcomm’s determination to build comprehensive AI capabilities spanning from resource-constrained IoT devices to sophisticated smartphone applications. By acquiring both specialized AI teams with complementary expertise, Qualcomm is positioning itself at the forefront of AI innovation across the entire computing spectrum.

The big picture: Qualcomm has acquired MovianAI, the generative AI division of Vietnam’s VinAI, to strengthen its research and development capabilities in advanced artificial intelligence.

• The acquisition brings a team of AI researchers led by Dr. Hung Bui, a former Google DeepMind scientist, who will continue heading the team at their Hanoi base.
• This strategic purchase follows Qualcomm’s recent acquisition of Edge Impulse, a company specializing in miniaturized machine learning for microcontrollers in IoT devices.

Complementary AI capabilities: The two acquisitions represent different ends of the AI spectrum, with MovianAI focusing on sophisticated generative AI while Edge Impulse specializes in optimizing AI for resource-constrained environments.

• MovianAI’s expertise spans generative AI, machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing—technologies increasingly critical for smartphones and advanced computing devices.
• The dual acquisitions position Qualcomm to develop AI solutions across both high-performance devices and power-limited IoT applications.

Strategic talent acquisition: Qualcomm described the MovianAI team as a “powerhouse” generative AI group that pushes boundaries with customized AI models and engineering expertise.

• Dr. Hung Bui’s background at Google DeepMind brings valuable experience in cutting-edge AI research to Qualcomm’s development efforts.
• Jilei Hou, Qualcomm’s senior vice president of engineering, emphasized the company’s commitment to dedicating necessary resources to R&D that positions them as “the driving force behind the next wave of AI innovation.”

Industry implications: The acquisition highlights the growing importance of Vietnam as an emerging tech talent hub in Southeast Asia.

• Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup, through its VinAI division, has established itself as a notable player in the global AI research landscape.
• Financial terms of the MovianAI acquisition were not disclosed, reflecting a common practice in strategic technology acquisitions where talent and intellectual property value may exceed traditional valuation metrics.