News/AI Chips
OpenAI ponders South Korea data center amid Samsung and SK partnerships
OpenAI is considering building a data center in South Korea while expanding partnerships with major Korean conglomerates like Samsung and SK, according to remarks made during the launch of its Seoul office. The move aligns with South Korea's push for AI sovereignty and positions OpenAI to tap into the country's advanced semiconductor ecosystem as it prepares to manufacture its own AI chips. What you should know: OpenAI's Chief Strategy Officer Jason Kwon confirmed the company's openness to Korean infrastructure investments during a September 10 press conference. "When it comes to the hardware chip side, I think we have a lot...
read Sep 10, 2025Arm launches Lumex chips for on-device AI in smartphones and wearables
Arm Holdings launched Lumex, its next-generation mobile chip designs optimized for artificial intelligence that can run on smartphones and wearable devices without internet connectivity. The new designs represent Arm's strategic push to capitalize on the growing demand for on-device AI processing, offering four variants ranging from energy-efficient options for smartwatches to high-performance versions capable of running large AI models directly on premium smartphones. What you should know: Lumex encompasses four different chip design types, each tailored for specific device categories and performance requirements. The designs range from low-power, energy-efficient versions for smartwatches and wearable devices to maximum-performance variants designed for...
read Sep 10, 2025Chinese brainiac AI runs 100x faster without Nvidia chips
Chinese scientists claim to have developed SpikingBrain1.0, the world's first "brain-like" AI large language model that mimics human neural firing patterns to reduce power consumption and operate without Nvidia chips. The breakthrough could challenge the dominance of traditional AI architectures like ChatGPT while offering China a path around U.S. semiconductor restrictions. How it works: SpikingBrain1.0 abandons the traditional "attention" mechanism used by models like ChatGPT and Meta's Llama, which processes all words in a sentence simultaneously. Instead of comparing every word to every other word, the model selectively focuses on nearby words, similar to how the human brain concentrates on...
read Sep 9, 2025Dutch ASML invests $1.5B in French Mistral AI, becomes largest shareholder
ASML, the Dutch semiconductor equipment maker, will invest 1.3 billion euros ($1.5 billion) in French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, securing an 11% stake and becoming the company's main shareholder. The strategic investment also includes a partnership to integrate Mistral's AI models across ASML's product portfolio and grants ASML a seat on Mistral's strategic committee. Why this matters: The deal represents one of the largest corporate investments in a European AI startup, signaling ASML's commitment to integrating artificial intelligence into its semiconductor manufacturing equipment business while strengthening Europe's position in the global AI race. Key details: ASML's investment makes it...
read Sep 5, 2025Nvidia fights GAIN AI Act that would prioritize US chip orders
Nvidia has criticized the proposed GAIN AI Act, arguing it would restrict global competition for advanced chips and harm U.S. economic leadership. The legislation, part of the National Defense Authorization Act, would require AI chipmakers to prioritize domestic orders before supplying foreign customers, mirroring restrictions from the AI Diffusion Rule that allocated computing power limits to different countries. What you should know: The GAIN AI Act would mandate that U.S. companies receive priority access to advanced AI chips before they can be exported internationally. Short for Guaranteeing Access and Innovation for National Artificial Intelligence Act, the legislation stipulates exporters must...
read Sep 5, 2025Broadcom scores $10B AI chip deal, shares surge 11% premarket
Broadcom shares surged 11% in premarket trading after the chipmaker announced a massive $10 billion AI chip order from a new customer, marking one of the largest deals in the company's history. The blockbuster agreement reinforces Broadcom's position as a leading custom chip provider as Big Tech companies seek alternatives to Nvidia's expensive and supply-constrained processors, while potentially adding over $160 billion to the company's $1.44 trillion market valuation. What you should know: The deal represents a significant milestone in Broadcom's AI strategy and could reshape competitive dynamics in the custom chip market. If premarket gains hold, Broadcom would cross...
read Sep 3, 2025Congress proposes US priority access to Nvidia’s AI chips
Congress is considering legislation that would force Nvidia and AMD to prioritize sales of their most powerful GPUs to US customers before exporting them to foreign markets, including China. The GAIN AI Act of 2025, now included in the Senate's draft of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2026, aims to address supply shortages that leave American businesses, startups, and universities waiting months for critical AI chips while these same processors are sold abroad. What you should know: The legislation would establish a "right-of-first-refusal" system for US customers seeking the most advanced GPUs needed for AI development. Nvidia and AMD...
read Sep 2, 2025Self, yes, but sufficient? Alibaba builds AI chip entirely in China amid US export controls
Alibaba has developed a new AI chip designed to handle a broader range of inference tasks, marking a significant shift toward domestic semiconductor production as the chip is being manufactured entirely in China. This development represents a strategic pivot away from foreign suppliers like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which produced Alibaba's earlier AI processors, and aligns with Beijing's broader push for technological self-sufficiency amid ongoing U.S. export restrictions. What you should know: The new chip is currently undergoing testing and represents Alibaba's latest effort to reduce dependence on foreign AI semiconductor suppliers. Unlike previous generations of Alibaba's AI processors...
read Sep 2, 2025Chinese AI chip maker Cambricon hits $81B valuation despite revenue risks
Cambricon Technologies, a Beijing-based AI chip designer, has seen its stock price soar to a market valuation of approximately $81.2 billion, surpassing established companies like MediaTek and SMIC despite generating significantly lower annual revenue. The meteoric rise reflects investor enthusiasm for China's domestic AI hardware ecosystem, though questions remain about the sustainability of its growth amid heavy client concentration and geopolitical pressures. The big picture: Cambricon's financial turnaround has been dramatic, generating RMB28.81 billion (approximately $4.03 billion) in revenue during the first half of 2025—more than 40 times the figure from a year earlier. The company also achieved profitability with...
read Sep 2, 2025Eggs, basket: Just 2 customers drive 39% of Nvidia’s record $46.7B quarterly sales
Nvidia disclosed that just two customers accounted for 39% of its record-breaking $46.7 billion second-quarter revenue, highlighting the chip giant's heavy dependence on a narrow customer base. The revelation underscores the concentration risk facing the AI chip leader, even as demand for its data center hardware continues to surge. What you should know: Nvidia's customer concentration extends beyond the top two buyers, creating significant revenue dependency on a small group. One customer alone represented 23% of Q2 revenue, while another accounted for 16%. Four additional customers each contributed between 10-14% of quarterly revenue. For the first half of fiscal 2026,...
read Sep 1, 2025Alibaba shares surge 19% as cloud growth and AI chip development fuel rally
Alibaba's Hong Kong-listed shares surged more than 19% on Monday following strong quarterly results driven by its cloud computing division and reports of new AI chip development. The rally represents the stock's highest level since March, as investors respond positively to the company's accelerating cloud growth and strategic AI investments that position it to compete with tech giants like Microsoft and Google. What you should know: Alibaba's cloud computing unit delivered impressive growth that exceeded previous quarters and fueled investor confidence. Cloud revenue jumped 26% annually, marking an acceleration from the previous quarter's growth rate. AI-related product revenue "maintained triple-digit...
read Aug 29, 2025Geekom’s $1.9K mini PC packs AMD’s flagship AI chip into compact design
Geekom has announced the A9 Mega, a compact mini PC powered by AMD's flagship Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor, launching via Kickstarter with pricing starting around $1,899. The system represents the 20th product to feature AMD's 16-core, 32-thread Strix Halo chip and positions itself as an alternative to traditional workstations and Apple's Mac Studio for AI workloads and creative applications. What you should know: The A9 Mega packs serious computing power into a compact CNC-machined aluminum body measuring 171x171x71mm. The Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor includes Radeon 8060S graphics and an XDNA 2 NPU (neural processing unit) capable of 126...
read Aug 29, 2025Marvell stock plunges 11% as AI chip demand goes from hot to cool
Marvell Technology's shares plummeted 11.3% in premarket trading after the chipmaker delivered a disappointing data center outlook that fell short of investor expectations. The decline reflects growing concerns about the AI chip market's cooling momentum, as even companies positioned to benefit from artificial intelligence infrastructure buildouts struggle to meet lofty growth projections. What you should know: Marvell's third-quarter data center revenue is expected to remain flat sequentially, despite investor bets on the company's custom AI chips for cloud giants. CEO Matthew Murphy attributed the weakness to normal "lumpiness" when large cloud providers build infrastructure, but didn't specify the source of...
read Aug 28, 2025Nvidia CEO says Trump talks on China chip sales will take a while
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang revealed that discussions with the Trump White House about allowing sales of a less advanced version of the company's next-generation Blackwell AI chips to China "will take a while." The talks represent a potential shift in U.S.-China tech policy, as Nvidia seeks to maintain access to the Chinese market while navigating ongoing export restrictions on advanced semiconductor technology. What you should know: Huang confirmed that preliminary conversations with the White House have begun regarding Blackwell chip exports to China. The discussions focus on allowing sales of a "less advanced version" of Nvidia's next-generation Blackwell chips, suggesting...
read Aug 28, 2025Microsoft unveils in-house AI models that run on fewer chips, free it from overreliance on OpenAI
Microsoft has unveiled two powerful AI models it developed in-house, MAI-Voice-1 and MAI-1-preview, marking the company's strategic shift away from relying solely on OpenAI's technology. The move positions Microsoft's AI division, led by Mustafa Suleyman, in direct competition with OpenAI and other industry leaders while giving the tech giant greater control over its AI destiny. What you should know: Microsoft's new models prioritize cost-effectiveness over raw computational power, using significantly fewer resources than competitors. MAI-Voice-1 is a speech model that runs on a single GPU (a specialized computer chip for AI processing) and can produce a minute of audio in...
read Aug 27, 2025IBM and AMD team up to build quantum-centric supercomputers
IBM and AMD have announced a collaboration to develop "quantum-centric supercomputing" architectures that integrate quantum systems with high-performance computing and AI accelerators. The partnership aims to create hybrid computing models that could tackle scientific and industrial problems at unprecedented speeds and scales, with quantum hardware simulating atoms and molecules while traditional supercomputers analyze large-scale data. What you should know: The collaboration focuses on blending IBM's quantum expertise with AMD's high-performance computing and AI technologies to push beyond traditional computing limitations. The companies plan to integrate AMD's CPUs, GPUs, and FPGAs (specialized processing chips) with IBM quantum computers to explore new...
read Aug 27, 2025China halts Nvidia H20 orders after U.S. “addiction” comments discovered
China has suspended new orders for Nvidia's H20 chips following inflammatory comments by U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who publicly stated that America's strategy was to get Chinese developers "addicted" to weaker U.S. technology. The move threatens Nvidia's revenue stream from a market that represents at least 15% of the company's total sales and accelerates the tech decoupling between the world's two largest economies. What triggered the restrictions: Lutnick's mid-July 2025 televised remarks proved to be the catalyst for China's swift regulatory response. "We don't sell them our best stuff, not our second-best stuff, not even our third-best," Lutnick told...
read Aug 19, 2025Nvidia develops new B30A chip for China with half the flagship’s power
Nvidia is developing a new AI chip for China based on its latest Blackwell architecture that will outperform the H20 model currently sold there, according to sources familiar with the matter. The move comes as President Trump recently opened the door to allowing more advanced Nvidia chips in China, though regulatory approval remains uncertain amid ongoing tensions over AI technology access. What you should know: The new chip, tentatively called the B30A, will use a single-die design delivering roughly half the computing power of Nvidia's flagship B300 accelerator. A single-die design places all main integrated circuit components on one continuous...
read Aug 19, 2025Arm hires Amazon’s AI chip director to build complete processors
Sometimes it's just wise to have an, er, chip on your shoulder. Arm Holdings has hired Rami Sinno, Amazon's AI chip director, to advance its ambitious plans to develop complete chips rather than just chip designs. Sinno previously led development of Amazon's Trainium and Inferentia AI chips, bringing critical expertise as Arm shifts from its traditional licensing model to building full semiconductor solutions. What you should know: This marks a significant strategic pivot for the chip architecture giant, which has historically focused on designing processor blueprints rather than manufacturing complete chips. Until now, Arm has operated by designing core architecture...
read Aug 18, 20256 Senate Democrats challenge Trump’s AI chip deal with China
Six Senate Democrats have warned President Donald Trump to reconsider his decision allowing Nvidia and AMD to sell advanced AI chips to China in exchange for a 15% revenue cut to the U.S. government. The bipartisan pushback highlights growing concerns that the arrangement could compromise America's technological edge and national security while potentially strengthening China's military capabilities. What you should know: The letter from prominent Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Elizabeth Warren, directly challenges Trump's August 11 announcement regarding export licenses for AI semiconductors. The senators argue that "negotiating away America's competitive edge" in exchange for...
read Aug 15, 20256 Democratic senators challenge Trump’s 15% AI chip export fee as illegal
Democratic senators have formally challenged President Trump's plan to collect a 15% fee from Nvidia and AMD's AI chip exports to China, arguing the arrangement violates federal law and potentially the Constitution. The bipartisan pushback highlights growing tensions over balancing national security concerns with commercial interests in the lucrative AI semiconductor market. What you should know: Six Democratic senators sent a letter to Trump on Friday demanding he reverse his decision to allow the chip exports with the fee structure. The lawmakers include Mark Warner of Virginia, Chuck Schumer of New York, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Jeanne Shaheen of...
read Aug 14, 2025DeepSeek delays AI model launch after Huawei chip training fails
DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence company, has delayed the launch of its new AI model after failing to successfully train it using Huawei's chips, according to a Financial Times report. This setback highlights the ongoing challenges facing China's efforts to reduce dependence on U.S. technology amid ongoing trade restrictions. The big picture: China's push for technological self-sufficiency is encountering significant technical hurdles as domestic chip alternatives struggle to match the performance of banned U.S. semiconductors. Why this matters: The delay underscores the complex reality of replacing advanced U.S. technology infrastructure, particularly in AI development where computational power is critical for...
read Aug 12, 2025Trump weighs allowing downgraded Nvidia Blackwell chips to China
President Donald Trump has signaled openness to allowing Nvidia to sell a downgraded version of its most advanced Blackwell AI chip to China, potentially reducing performance by 30-50%. This development comes as part of ongoing negotiations over semiconductor exports, with Nvidia and AMD already agreeing to pay the U.S. government a 15% revenue cut from Chinese chip sales in exchange for export licenses. What you should know: Trump indicated he would consider approving a "somewhat enhanced — in a negative way" Blackwell processor for Chinese markets. The president said he plans to meet with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang specifically about...
read Aug 11, 2025Micron raises Q4 forecast to $11.2B on surging AI memory chip demand
Micron Technology raised its fourth-quarter revenue forecast to $11.2 billion and adjusted earnings per share to $2.85, surpassing previous estimates due to surging demand for AI memory chips. The semiconductor company's shares jumped 5% in premarket trading as investors responded to the stronger-than-expected guidance driven by increased orders from tech firms scaling their AI data center investments. What you should know: Micron significantly boosted its financial outlook for the quarter ending in August, reflecting the company's position in the AI infrastructure boom. Revenue forecast increased from $10.7 billion (plus or minus $300 million) to $11.2 billion (plus or minus $100...
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