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Buzz about Broadcom’s custom chips is testing, but not breaking Nvidia's dominance
CNBC· 2026-01-30 20:35
Core Insights - The demand for custom chips, particularly from Broadcom, is increasing among hyperscalers for building advanced AI models, with Google utilizing Broadcom's tensor processor units (TPUs) for its Gemini AI project [1] - Nvidia remains a dominant player in the AI chip market, with its GPUs being essential for many companies, including Google, despite the rise of custom chips [1] - Broadcom's AI revenue has surged by 65% year-over-year to $20 billion, contributing to a record semiconductor revenue of $37 billion for the company [1] Company Analysis - Google has been developing TPUs for over a decade and is now offering them to cloud customers, positioning itself as a competitor to Nvidia in the AI chip space [1] - Nvidia's CEO has downplayed the threat from custom chips, asserting that Nvidia's versatility allows it to address a broader market than just AI [1] - Broadcom's recent custom chip deal with OpenAI highlights the trend of diversification in the chip market, although Nvidia's market share is expected to remain strong [1] Market Dynamics - Analysts suggest that Nvidia will maintain over 50% market share for at least the next five years, with a buy rating and a price target of $250 per share [1] - Broadcom's position in the custom chip market is considered more fragile, primarily due to its reliance on Google as a major customer [1] - Wolfe analysts predict that Google's willingness to make TPUs available to third parties could create significant competition for Nvidia, with an estimated 7 million TPU shipments by 2028 [1]