Qualcomm, a leading US-based mobile chipset manufacturer, is making significant investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and PC chips to challenge the dominance of Intel and Apple in the market. The company’s focus extends beyond mobile connectivity, as it covers a wide range of technologies and applications, including generative AI, smartphones, PCs, metaverse, XR devices, automotive, and industrial use cases.
In a recent discussion, Qualcomm’s CFO, Akash Palkhiwala, highlighted the company’s upcoming 3-nanometer (nm) manufacturing and its plans for 5G and 6G technologies. Palkhiwala also addressed the company’s focus on the automotive industry, its presence in India, and workforce realignment as part of its expansion strategy.
Qualcomm is at the forefront of the digitization of the automotive sector, emphasizing cloud connectivity and developing solutions for autonomous driving. Several prominent Indian automakers, including Tata Motors and Mahindra Auto, have already adopted Qualcomm’s cockpit platforms in their models. However, the adoption of Qualcomm’s technology by Maruti depends on their product decisions.
India is viewed as a significant market by Qualcomm due to its growing digitization, where mobile devices have evolved beyond just being phones. Additionally, the company sees opportunities in manufacturing, particularly in building wireless networks for private 5G networks in manufacturing environments.
Addressing supply chain concerns, Qualcomm believes that the issues have stabilized compared to previous years. The company is already a diversified player in the chip industry but anticipates further diversification as more countries enter chip manufacturing.
As a pioneer in wireless technologies, Qualcomm has actively contributed to shaping standards for 3G, 4G, and 5G, and is now venturing into 6G technology standards.
Recently, Qualcomm underwent a workforce reduction as part of a broader realignment process to expand its focus beyond handsets and invest in new areas, as announced in its latest earnings call.
The company remains committed to providing integrated chips that encompass 4G, 5G, CPU, GPU, and AI in a single piece of silicon. By betting on AI and PC chips, Qualcomm aims to challenge the market dominance of Intel and Apple, further establishing itself as a key player in the industry. Through its continuous innovation and strategic investments, Qualcomm is poised to shape the future of mobile connectivity, automotive technology, and AI applications.
