Why would Arm’s owner want to buy a rival to AMD and Intel? I can think of one reason
Posted by:
John Harrison
SoftBank, the majority stakeholder in Arm, is reportedly in discussions to potentially acquire Ampere Computing. Ampere, known for its innovative data center chips like the 192-core Polaris, and the upcoming 256-core Magnetrix, has attracted attention for its advancements in Arm architecture. The deal, though uncertain, illustrates SoftBank’s aspirations to compete with industry giants like AMD and Intel in the AI-centered market. Acquiring Ampere Computing, a key player in AI and data center chips, could strengthen Arm’s transition towards becoming a full-fledged chip manufacturer. The collaboration could lead to the development of competitive systems for the sector, combining SoftBank’s Graphcore AI accelerators with Ampere’s processors. However, potential challenges include Ampere’s inclination towards independence through an IPO, and Softbank needing to garner approval from influential stakeholders like Oracle and the Carlyle Group.
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