Qualcomm has officially entered the data center AI market with the launch of two new chips, the AI200 and AI250. The announcement, which included accelerator cards and rack-scale solutions, signals a major strategic push beyond its core mobile business and sent its stock price surging over 20%—its largest single-day gain since 2019.
The new chips are specifically optimized for AI inference workloads and support popular AI frameworks. Qualcomm emphasized their software ecosystem and focus on reducing the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for enterprises. The AI200 is scheduled for commercial availability in 2026, followed by the AI250 in 2027.
This move follows Qualcomm's strategic acquisitions and R&D efforts to build data center capabilities, including a plan to acquire Alphawave for its high-speed interface technology. The launch positions Qualcomm as a direct competitor to NVIDIA in the AI accelerator market.
ICgoodFind : Qualcomm's entry with a full-stack solution is set to intensify competition and reshape the landscape of the data center AI chip market.
