Qualcomm(US:QCOM) 3 6 Ke·2025-10-29 11:12Core Insights - Qualcomm has launched two new AI data center chips, AI200 and AI250, with plans for commercial use in 2026 and 2027 respectively, marking a significant step in its data center business strategy [2][3] - The announcement led to a sharp increase in Qualcomm's stock price, reaching a peak of $205, the highest since June 2024, closing at $188 with an 11.09% gain [2] - Qualcomm is collaborating with Saudi Arabian AI company HUMAIN to implement the AI200 and AI250 chips, aiming to enhance AI applications [2][11] Market Context - The demand for AI inference chips is surging, with major players like NVIDIA, Google, and Huawei also releasing new products in this space [2][6] - Barclays predicts that by 2026, AI inference computing will account for over 70% of total computing demand for general artificial intelligence, necessitating a significant increase in chip capital expenditure, potentially nearing $300 billion [6][7] Product Features - The AI200 and AI250 chips utilize Qualcomm's NPU technology, with the AI200 supporting 768GB of LPDDR memory and the AI250 featuring an innovative near-memory computing architecture for improved bandwidth and lower power consumption [4][8] - Both solutions employ direct liquid cooling and PCIe for vertical expansion, ensuring efficient performance and security for AI workloads, with a total power consumption of 160kW per rack [4] Competitive Landscape - Qualcomm's entry into the AI inference market positions it alongside competitors like NVIDIA and Google, with all companies expected to compete for market share starting in 2026 [7][8] - Despite previous challenges in the data center market, Qualcomm is now focused on leveraging partnerships and technology to enhance its competitive edge [9][10] Future Outlook - Qualcomm's data center segment is anticipated to take time to contribute significantly to revenue, with projections for potential contributions starting as early as the 2028 fiscal year [13] - The company is also exploring diversification in other areas such as smart driving and IoT, especially in light of the impending expiration of its agreement with Apple, which currently accounts for about 20% of its revenue [13]