Qualcomm shares surge 20% on launch of AI200 and AI250 chips

Qualcomm (QCOM) shares surged 20% following the announcement of its new AI200 and AI250 data center chips. The AI200 is set to launch in 2026, with the AI250 following in 2027. These chips are designed to be inference-optimized accelerators aimed at competing with Nvidia and AMD in the AI chip market.

Saudi Arabia"s Humain has been identified as the first major customer, with plans for deployments of up to 200 megawatts. The stock price reached a 52-week high amid increasing demand for AI infrastructure.

This launch marks Qualcomm"s entry into the competitive AI chip sector, which has seen significant growth in recent years.