Nvidia Shifts Focus, Identifies Data Center as New Unit of Computing

Bengaluru (PTI): In a significant shift in focus, Nvidia is now looking at data centers as the new unit of computing, identifying accelerated computing as the future, according to Hasan Aijaz, business head (cloud and consumer internet), Nvidia South Asia.

At the Bengaluru Tech Summit on Thursday, Aijaz stated that "you don't have to think chips. You don't have to think systems. You have to think how chips and systems work together along with the network, along with the software. And the applications which come at the top of this entire stack, how do you accelerate them?"

Aijaz also emphasized that accelerated computing is the future, as "you need to think about how can we accelerate these computations for better performance and efficiency."

Meanwhile, Qualcomm, another prominent player in the tech industry, has announced its focus on edge AI, aiming to make on-device AI more accessible and efficient for consumers. Srini Maddali, SVP, engineering at Qualcomm, stated that "AI on the edge is not an option; it is a necessity."

Qualcomm's strategy involves tailoring technologies to suit the cost-sensitive Indian market while leveraging its rapidly growing digital ecosystem.

The company has developed a proprietary Hindi language model capable of translating across 22 languages with over 800 combinations. "This technology...will enable us to translate language from different dialectics," Maddali said.

Aijaz also shared his perspective on India's AI landscape, stating that the country is a powerhouse of skills and intelligence for Nvidia. "If we train the engineers, if we help them with the right products and tools, India and Indian engineers are going to take the world by a storm."

Looking ahead, Nvidia foresees a collaborative AI future where ecosystems rather than individual companies drive innovation. "It will not be the one company which will win; it will be the ecosystem which will come together and which will help build AI applications for the various uses that humanity is used to," Aijaz added.

Qualcomm's strategy involves working with partners to bring advanced technologies to end-users, particularly in the Indian market where an exponentially increasing number of people are getting onto smart devices.