At Computex 2025, Qualcomm chief Cristiano Amon said the company will launch a custom CPU designed to work with Nvidia’s GPUs and software stack. Given how much of the AI server racket now runs on Job’s Mob-style vertical integration, that’s not just helpful, it’s essential.
Amon told CNBC, “I think we see a lot of growth happening in this space for decades to come, and we have some technology that can add real value added.” He then added, “So I think we have a very disruptive CPU.” Bold talk for a company that bailed on data centres last time the going got tough.
The re-entry follows its 2021 buyout of Nuvia, the Arm-based CPU designer Qualcomm hopes will be the golden ticket back into hyperscale. That’s assuming it can claw past Chipzilla, AMD, Amazon and Microsoft, all of whom already have custom silicon swinging in this space.
Amon reckons there’s room for more, saying, “as long as we can build a great product, we can bring innovation, and we can add value with some disruptive technology, there’s going to be room for Qualcomm.” Whether anyone actually wants that CPU is another matter.
The cocaine nose jobs of Wall Street will be watching. Apple, once Qualcomm’s golden goose, is off doing its own modem thing, and Qualcomm’s smartphone revenue stream is looking increasingly shaky. Hence the current scattergun strategy: cars, PCs, and now data centres.
Last week, Qualcomm even signed a memorandum of understanding with Saudi-based AI firm Humain, which operates under the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund. Clearly not fussy where the cheque comes from.
IDC semiconductor boss Mario Morales gave the move a cautious thumbs-up, noting the sector is ballooning and Qualcomm’s timing may finally be right. “Over the coming five years, the data centre will be the fastest growing segment for the semi market,” he said. Morales also reckoned Qualcomm’s tech “will probably likely come over the next couple years,” which is analyst code for don’t hold your breath.
Speaking from Computex, Morales said, “Qualcomm continues to move forward with the company's diversification business strategy and being in the data center space is extremely important for them to really be able to materialize top line growth over the coming years.”
The chipmaker waved around talk of Nvidia partnerships and future CPU wizardry during its keynote, but dodged any real roadmap specifics. “Qualcomm did not disclose any roadmap and they were vague in terms of what they really want to do in the space,” Morales said.
He pointed out that Qualcomm has little choice. With Apple and Samsung slowly phasing out Qualcomm’s modems in favour of in-house silicon, the mobile gravy train is fast running out of track. If it wants to stay relevant, it needs to park itself where the action is in the data centre and at the edge.
“In addition, Nvidia cannot compete in the edge with a large GPU alone,” Morales said, noting how Job’s Mob already got cosy with MediaTek for in-car silicon and now needs to link arms with edge-capable players like Qualcomm.
“It makes sense that they would look to partner at the edge especially with Qualcomm, who has an established technology DNA.”
Meanwhile, Amon used his Computex slot to bang on about Snapdragon X Series chips now powering more than 85 PC designs. He promised a fresh chip reveal at Qualcomm’s summit in September and claimed these CPUs will handle AI on-device rather than farming it out to the cloud.
That’s if PC makers and developers buy into it. Because right now, it looks like Qualcomm is throwing silicon at every wall in sight, hoping something sticks before the modem money dries up.
