Qualcomm Reenters Data Center Market with AI Cloud Project in Saudi Arabia

Qualcomm has officially announced its return to the data center CPU market, beginning with a significant partnership in Saudi Arabia. The company will collaborate with HUMAIN AI, a venture backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), to develop cutting-edge AI infrastructure and cloud-to-edge services. This move marks a significant step for Qualcomm, which previously attempted to enter the data center market with the Centriq CPU in 2017 but canceled the project in 2019. In a recent press release, Qualcomm confirmed the signing of a memorandum of understanding with HUMAIN AI. The partnership aims to create highly efficient, scalable AI data centers in Saudi Arabia, targeting both local and international markets. The focus will be on delivering hybrid AI inferencing solutions that integrate Qualcomm’s edge and data center technologies. Qualcomm also plans to develop and supply advanced data center CPU and AI solutions to HUMAIN’s facilities, accelerating the deployment of this infrastructure using Snapdragon and Dragonwing processors. Both companies emphasize that the data centers will provide government and enterprise organizations with access to high-performance, energy-efficient computing resources and comprehensive cloud-to-edge services. To further bolster this initiative, Qualcomm will establish a design center in Saudi Arabia dedicated to semiconductor technology development. Cristiano Amon, President and CEO of Qualcomm, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are pleased to be working with HUMAIN to support the realization of their goal to become a global AI leader.” This announcement comes on the heels of several other major AI initiatives in Saudi Arabia. Earlier this year, Nvidia revealed plans to supply 18,000 AI GPUs for the construction of a 500-megawatt data center. These developments have been facilitated by the Trump administration’s scrapping of the AI Diffusion Rule, which previously restricted the export of AI chips to many countries. The resurgence of Qualcomm’s interest in server CPUs is not entirely surprising, given recent hires such as Sailesh Kottapalli. Formerly the chief architect of Intel’s Xeon server processors, Kottapalli has extensive experience with x86, Itanium, and multiple Xeon generations. His expertise is expected to play a crucial role in Qualcomm’s efforts to develop competitive data center CPU solutions. This strategic entry into the data center market aligns with Qualcomm’s broader commitment to advancing AI technology and expanding its footprint in the global tech landscape. By leveraging its strong background in mobile and edge computing, Qualcomm aims to offer unique solutions that address the growing demand for efficient, powerful computing in AI and cloud applications. For those interested in tracking the latest developments in the tech industry, Tom’s Hardware is a reliable source for up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews. Make sure to follow them on Google News to stay informed.