Ampere Computing and Qualcomm Collaborate for AI Chip Power Bills

Ampere Computing, in partnership with Qualcomm, has introduced a new data center server solution designed to reduce the power consumption associated with artificial intelligence (AI) chips. 

This collaboration combines Ampere’s energy-efficient central processing units (CPUs) with Qualcomm’s power-efficient AI chips, targeting the growing demand for cost-effective AI infrastructure.

Ampere Energy-Efficient Approach:

Founded by Renee James, a former Intel president, Ampere leverages Arm Holdings’ technology to produce CPUs used by major tech companies like Oracle and Alphabet’s Google. 

Ampere has carved out a niche by focusing on energy efficiency, offering a competitive edge over traditional chipmakers like Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). 

The company’s latest CPU, set to launch next year, boasts 256 processing cores, up from 192, and will be manufactured using Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s (TSMC) advanced 3-nanometer process.

Qualcomm’s AI Chip Expertise:

Qualcomm, primarily known for its dominance in mobile phone chips, has been venturing into the AI chip market for data centers since 2019. 

The company aims to offer power-efficient solutions for running AI models, complementing Ampere’s energy-efficient CPUs. 

The integrated Ampere-Qualcomm server is specifically designed to run AI models post-training, providing an efficient solution for operational AI workloads.

Strategic Market Positioning:

The collaboration between Ampere and Qualcomm represents a strategic move to strengthen their positions in the data center market. 

By combining their technologies, the companies aim to offer a compelling alternative to traditional AI chip solutions, indirectly challenging industry leader Nvidia. 

While Nvidia’s chips are primarily used for training AI systems with vast amounts of data, the Ampere-Qualcomm servers focus on efficiently running these trained models.

Jim McGregor, founder of Tirias Research, noted the strategic implications of this partnership, emphasizing that it helps both companies block potential rivals from gaining a foothold in the data center market. “For both of these companies, it’s about keeping their competition out of the data center,” McGregor said.

Future Prospects and Innovations:

Ampere’s chief product officer, Jeff Wittich, hinted at future collaborations beyond server-level solutions. 

The companies are poised to tackle broader challenges in the AI and data center markets, leveraging their integrated expertise to develop innovative solutions that address the industry’s evolving needs.