Qualcomm Returns to Server CPU Market, Challenges Nvidia’s AI Dominance

Qualcomm is returning to the server CPU market, directly challenging Nvidia's dominance in AI computing. CEO Cristiano Amon confirmed the company's plans, marking a strategic shift for the chipmaker.

New Dragonfly brand includes custom Oryon CPUs and AI accelerators

The new data center brand is called Dragonfly. It includes custom Oryon-core CPUs, AI inference accelerators, and custom ASICs. Qualcomm is also developing CPUs compatible with Nvidia's NVLink Fusion interconnect.

The first products are the AI200 accelerator and the AI250 near-memory compute accelerator. The AI200 packs 768GB of LPDDR memory. The AI200 is expected to launch in 2026, followed by the AI250 in 2027.

Qualcomm is working with a hyperscale cloud provider on custom chips. First shipments are expected in December 2025. The company will reveal a detailed product roadmap at its Investor Day on June 24.