The AI chip market has become a fiercely contested arena among leading semiconductor firms, lured by its sky-high profit margins. Following in the footsteps of NVIDIA and AMD, Qualcomm made its official foray into this lucrative sector on October 27, 2025, with the launch of two AI chips: the AI200 and AI250. Tailored specifically for data centers, these chips prioritize artificial intelligence inference optimization, offer compatibility with mainstream AI frameworks, and place a strong emphasis on software support, all while aiming to slash the total cost of ownership for businesses.
Each card of the AI200 and AI250 is capable of supporting a staggering 768GB of LPDDR memory. Notably, the AI250 ups the ante with 10 times the memory bandwidth, enabling lightning-fast inference speeds. Both chips leverage DLC (Direct Liquid Cooling) technology and come equipped with a 160KW cabinet-level power solution.
The AI200 is slated for commercial release in 2026, while the AI250 will make its debut in 2027. In the wake of this announcement, Qualcomm's stock price initially skyrocketed by 20%, before settling at a still-impressive 13% gain, currently hovering around the $190 mark.