SAN DIEGO: Qualcomm has confirmed its reentry into the data center CPU market, partnering with Saudi Arabia’s state-backed AI cloud infrastructure project through a new collaboration with HUMAIN AI.
In a press release, Qualcomm announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with HUMAIN AI, a Saudi venture backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF). The agreement paves the way for Qualcomm’s development of next-generation AI data centers, infrastructure, and cloud-to-edge services in the region.
Qualcomm’s move marks a return to server CPU manufacturing after its earlier attempt, Centriq, was discontinued in 2019. The company later acquired startup Nuvia, which was focused on Arm-based server processors. While Qualcomm repurposed Nuvia’s technology for Snapdragon-powered Windows devices, industry speculation has persisted over the company’s ambitions to reenter the data center CPU space.
The newly announced partnership emphasizes AI-driven data center solutions. Qualcomm stated its plans to develop “cutting-edge AI data centers in Saudi Arabia designed to deliver highly efficient, scalable cloud-to-edge hybrid AI inferencing solutions for local and international customers.”
The company hinted at its server CPU ambitions earlier this year when it hired Sailesh Kottapalli, a former Intel executive known for his leadership on multiple generations of Xeon processors.
Details on specific product timelines or technical specifications remain undisclosed, but the partnership underscores Qualcomm’s strategy to expand its presence in AI-driven cloud services and data center computing.