For years, analysts “dinged” for Qualcomm for its overwhelming revenue reliance on the smartphone and mobile modem markets (i.e., anticipated $7B loss due to Apple in-house modem chip). But, the Qualcomm-ByteDance partnership is being touted as a transformative deal, transitioning Qualcomm from being a mobile-first provider into a major global AI infrastructure player.
Because ByteDance will procure millions of Qualcomm’s specialized ASICs for intensive AI inference workloads, it signifies a diversification of a GPU market still monopolized by Nvidia. As RCRTech reports today, the deal involves a multi-pronged approach of Qualcomm bulk ASICs, plus manufacturing services that will bring ByteDance’s proprietary, in-house chip designs into production (akin to what Google, Meta and others are doing to produce their own custom silicon). Read “Qualcomm reportedly secures multi-million AI chip deal with ByteDance” and other “top stories,” below.
Susana Schwartz
Technology Editor
RCRTech
AI Infrastructure Top Stories
Qualcomm’s big AI win: Qualcomm will supply ByteDance with millions of custom AI chips for data center workloads, diversifying a market dominated by Nvidia, and increasingly contensted by AMD, Google and other silicon players.
SoftBank targets enterprise: SoftBank told RCR that enterprises facing restrictions on transferring data overseas and seeking infrastructure optimized for the Japanese market can tap its AI cloud platform as an alternative to hyperscalers.
‘Harvest now, decrypt later’: Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) and quantum key distribution (QKD) secure AI infrastructure against future quantum computers, mitigating threats in which adversaries intercept encrypted training data.
AI Today: What You Need to Know
DOJ vs NAACP?: The DOJ may intervene in the NAACP lawsuit over Elon Musk’s xAI natural-gas turbines in Southaven, MS, where the Southern Environmental Law Center alleges Musk has not sought permits, in violation of the Clean Air Act
E&E poll – what do people know about DCs?: Polling of 2,000 people found that nearly 1/2 of Americans expect data centers to be a major campaign issue in their region in the next five years, starting with midterms as a first “test” of voter appetite.
Ohio DC sales tax exemption: Following testimony from the Data Center Coalition, state officials and regional electric grid experts testified to lawmakers, with Gov. Mike DeWine then pausing Ohio’s sales tax exemption for the state’s data centers.
Central Oregon rejects Boxminer DC: La Pine officials rejected a pitch to bring a data center to their Central Oregon city, despite estimates from Boxminer that it would’ve meant hundreds-of millions-of-dollars and hundreds of jobs.
CBRE, Meta to train DC workers: CBRE and Meta will create multiple U.S. training centers for technicians and skilled trades people interested in building and maintaining data centers. The first two sites will open in Ohio and Indianapolis.
Solid-state transformers: Microchip Technology announced new 3.3 kV HV‑D3 mSiC Power Modules, designed for efficient power delivery from the medium‑voltage grid directly to the server rack, accelerating SSTs in data centers.
RCR Events
Telco AI Forum, June 16th
Telco AI Forum brings together operators, vendors, hyperscalers, and academia to explore how the evolution of the industry and partnership ecosystems is laying the foundations for AI-native 6G networks and unlocking ROI. Register now
Quantum Safe Networks Forum, July 14th
Quantum Safe Networks Forum brings together telecom operators, cybersecurity experts, and industry analysts to explore how to build resilient, future-ready infrastructure in the face of quantum disruption. Register now
RCR Roundtables AI Infrastructure, October 21st, Dallas, Texas
Join 50 senior data center, energy and AI leaders at the Ritz-Carlton Dallas on October 21 for invitation-only roundtables on powering and scaling AI. Request your invitation
Industry Resources
Webinar, June 2nd: Scaling optical networks for the AI and hyperscale era
Report: AI in testing: Developing trust, delivering results
Report: Test, measurement and service assurance in the AI era
