NVIDIA Acquires Arm for US$40Billion

In a move that could shake up the AI and high-performance computing industries, NVIDIA has announced a plan to acquire Arm Limited for US$40Billion. Arm is the owner and licenser of intellectual property for the Arm chip, which is used in many mobile devices. Efficient power usage has recently lead to an expanded role for Arm processors in the fields of AI and HPC.

The union envisions a new generation of energy-efficient systems that combine the Arm processor with NVIDIA’s GPU technology. According to the announcement, “...the combination brings together NVIDIA’s leading AI computing platform with Arm’s vast ecosystem to create the premier computing company for the age of artificial intelligence, accelerating innovation while expanding into large, high-growth markets.” NVIDIA plans to establish a world-class AI research and education center at Arm’s Cambridge, UK headquarters and will continue the existing open licensing model for Arm’s IP portfolio.

Arm CEO Simon Segars adds, “Arm and NVIDIA share a vision and passion that ubiquitous, energy-efficient computing will help address the world’s most pressing issues, from climate change to healthcare, from agriculture to education. Delivering on this vision requires new approaches to hardware and software and a long-term commitment to research and development. By bringing together the technical strengths of our two companies, we can accelerate our progress and create new solutions that will enable a global ecosystem of innovators.”