Tag: Qualcomm

Posted on

Qualcomm intensifies competition with Intel and AMD and others as the company introduces its newest AI PC chip

New AI chip from Qualcomm

Qualcomm has introduced the Snapdragon X Plus 8-core processor, intensifying its venture into the AI PC market and challenging competitors like Intel and AMD

The U.S. semiconductor powerhouse announced that the Snapdragon X Plus 8-core targets PCs priced from $700, aiming to broaden its chip reach to additional devices.

Moreover, Qualcomm has enjoyed backing from Microsoft, which is incorporating Snapdragon processors in its Copilot+ PCs.

Qualcomm says the company is also working on mixed reality smart glasses with Samsung and Google.

Posted on

Amazon, Intel, Meta, Nintendo, Apple, Snap, Qualcomm and others report – here’s a brief round-up

Reports summary 31st July 2024 -1st August 2024

Amazon offers weak guidance citing Olympics and the Trump assassination attempt as cause (consumers are distracted). However, Amazon’s cloud unit reports 19% revenue growth, topping estimates and a 20% increase in business in Q2. Amazon stocks pull back after guidance update.

Intel endures a 22% share plunge dragging down other global microchip stocks from TSMC, ASML to Samsung. Company to cut 15% of workforce, reports quarterly guidance miss.

Meta shares climb 6% on positive earnings data and good revenue forecast. Zuckerberg enthused over AI and how it’s helping create profits suggesting ‘Meta’s advertising growth is proof that BIG AI spending is already paying off.’ However, Meta’s Reality Labs posts $4.5 billion loss in second quarter.

Nintendo profit falls 55% as sales of its ageing Switch console plunge. Nintendo revenue and profit plunged in Q1 as sales of its ageing Switch console decline. Nintendo sold 2.1 million units of its Switch consoles, down 46% on the year. Investors are seeking news surrounding a successor to the Nintendo Switch console.

Apple sales climbed 5%, topping estimates as iPad and services revenue lift despite ongoing issues with iPhone sales slipping in China. Apple is spending more on AI but remains way behind its peers.

Snap shares plunge more than 20% on weak guidance.

Qualcomm beats estimates as phone microchip sales up 12%.

Samsung Q2 revenue and profit comes in above estimates amid strong AI demand.

AMD jumps 5% as global microchip stocks rally. Data centre sales doubled.

Posted on

Nvidia $3 trillion market cap propels S&P 500 and Nasdaq to new all-time highs

Nvidia at $3 trillion market cap

The S&P 500 reached a new high as Nvidia surpassed the $3 trillion mark for the first time, and the anticipation of an interest rate cut grew due to softer-than-expected job data.

S&P 500 all-time high as of 5th June 2024

S&P 500 all-time high as of 5th June 2024

Similarly, the Nasdaq 100 and Nasdaq Composite achieved new record highs

Nasdaq 100 as of 5th June 2024
Nasdaq Comp as of 5th June 2024

AI boom catapults Nvidia passed Apple’s market cap’ valuation

Artificial intelligence (AI) chipmaker Nvidia passed Apple’s market cap’ to become the world’s second most valuable company after Microsoft.

Nvidia’s shares have surged 24% following its impressive earnings report in May, in contrast to Apple’s shares, which have increased by only 5% this year amid a slowdown in sales growth in recent months.

Nvidia one year share price as of 5th June 2024

Nvidia one year share price as of 5th June 2024

Nvidia Market Cap at $3.01 trillion as of 5th June 2024

Nvidia £3.01 trillion market cap’

Posted on

Microsoft announces new PCs with AI chips

AI art

Microsoft is promoting new computers equipped with advanced chips, engineered to operate the new artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities embedded in the Windows operating system.

On Monday 20th May 2024, Microsoft unveiled a Surface Laptop and a Surface Pro tablet, both featuring a Qualcomm chip capable of executing AI tasks both online and offline.

The new Microsoft Copilot+ PCs feature chips designed by ARM and are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus chips, which are also based on ARM architecture. These Snapdragon-powered PCs represent the initial series of devices under the Copilot+ PC brand, introducing over 20 models from various manufacturers, such as Acer.

The partnership between Microsoft, Qualcomm, and PC manufacturers is focused on providing superior processing and quick response times, with these ARM-based chips being integral to the new AI designs.

In addition, manufacturers like Lenovo, Dell, HP, Asus, Acer, and Samsung are launching AI-ready PCs featuring Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus processors. These processors offer extended battery life and compatibility with Microsoft’s Copilot AI chatbot.

Microsoft’s powerful AI vision – some tech information

Windows PCs designed for AI, known as Copilot+ PCs, are fitted with new, powerful chips capable of an astounding 40+ TOPS, ensuring all-day battery life and access to cutting-edge AI models.

Promoted as the fastest and most intelligent Windows PCs ever created, they boast features like Recall, Cocreator, and Live Captions, which can translate audio from over 40 languages into English.

These devices include sleek, lightweight, and elegantly designed models from Microsoft Surface and OEM partners such as Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung. Pre-orders are now open, with availability starting on June 18 and prices reportedly beginning at $999. This represents a major shift in the Windows platform, placing AI at the forefront of PC architecture.

This progress is a big part of Microsoft’s wider initiative to drive AI innovation onto devices, enhancing the AI capabilities that are already present in the cloud through Copilot.

This is a massive development in the deployment of AI to the masses.

Posted on

Arm reportedly to launch AI chips in 2025 as Softbank plan AI data centres

AI

Arm, with a 90% holding by SoftBank, is reportedly set to establish an AI chip unit with the goal of developing a prototype by spring 2025.

This initiative is aimed at catching up with the booming AI market, currently dominated by Nvidia.

Arm, alongside competitors such as AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm, is accelerating efforts to gain position in the AI sector.

SoftBank is negotiating with contract manufacturers, including Taiwan’s TSMC, to produce the AI chips. Mass production is expected to commence in autumn 2025.

Arm’s shares have surged by nearly 45% this year, bringing its market capitalization to over $113 billion.

The chip designer based in the U.K., plans to create an AI chip unit to develop a prototype by spring 2025.

Discussions are reportedly ongoing with contract manufacturers like Taiwan’s TSMC for the production of the AI chips. It was reported that production is anticipated to start in fall 2025.

Arm is responsible for designing the core architecture for these chips. The company licences its designs to companies including Qualcomm and Nvidia and earning royalty fees from each sale. The company asserts that 99% of high-end smartphones utilize Arm technology.

Ambition

Established by Japanese billionaire Masayoshi Son, SoftBank is heavily investing in AI. The company has new plans to allocate $960 million by the following year to enhance its generative AI computing capabilities. In June 2023, Son expressed SoftBank’s ambition to occupy a leading role in the AI revolution.

Reportedly, SoftBank aims to establish AI data centres equipped with proprietary chips throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia, and the Middle East by 2026.

For the fiscal year concluding in March 2024, SoftBank recorded a 7.24 billion Japanese Yen ($4.6 billion) profit in its Vision Fund.

This was the first profitable year for the principal tech investment division since 2021.