Qualcomm poaches Xeon chief architect to compete better with AMD and Intel in AI data center CPU market
Posted by:
John Harrison
Qualcomm, a well-known player in the technology industry famous for its Snapdragon processors, has recently made a significant move by hiring Sailesh Kottapalli, a seasoned expert in x86 architecture with a background in Intel. This strategic hire indicates Qualcomm’s ambition to compete with major CPU market players like AMD and Intel. Kottapalli’s expertise in x86 architecture is expected to bridge the gap between Qualcomm’s current Arm-based designs and the demanding requirements of data center CPUs.
Despite Qualcomm’s previous retreat from server CPU development in 2018, the company is now refocusing on creating high-performance, energy-efficient server solutions catering to data center applications. This renewed push includes the development of AI accelerator chips under the Qualcomm Cloud AI brand, accompanied by collaborations with industry leaders such as AWS, HPE, and Lenovo.
Furthermore, Qualcomm’s journey into the data center market started with the Snapdragon X series for PCs, which features custom Arm-based cores acquired from Nuvia. The company faced legal challenges related to the acquisition in December 2024, with Arm alleging breach of licensing terms. Despite these hurdles, Qualcomm’s expansion in the data center sector remains steady, showcasing its commitment to innovation and growth in the tech industry.
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