The launch of Microsoft‘s new AI chip has been pushed back to 2026. While other companies like Google and Amazon are advancing in the race to develop their own chips, Microsoft has faced delays. Additionally, sources indicate that its performance may fall short of NVIDIA’s Blackwell chip, which is currently leading in the market.
Braga’s Production Has Been Delayed
Microsoft’s new AI chip, Braga, has been delayed by at least six months, according to a report from The Information. The company has encountered development issues, and the first reports suggest that Braga’s performance may be lower than NVIDIA’s Blackwell, which is the company’s flagship chip.
The challenges Microsoft faced seem to involve unexpected changes and staffing constraints. Microsoft had planned to roll out the new chip this year in its data centers. Despite investing substantial financial and technical resources, the company will have to wait longer before reducing its reliance on NVIDIA hardware, which continues to dominate the market along with other major players.
Microsoft’s AI Chips
For context, Microsoft had already announced its development of AI chips, starting with Maia 100. This was an AI accelerator designed and tested internally for Azure data centers, aimed at boosting various services. Braga, the next-generation chip, focuses on AI inference, which differs from training-based models.
With inference, this model applies what it has learned, processing millions of user requests quickly while focusing on low power consumption and efficiency. Currently, Microsoft is aiming for independence, as almost all AI inference is currently handled by NVIDIA products, which are expensive and limit control. The company’s goal is to lower costs, improve performance (although there are some doubts in this regard), and achieve greater efficiency.
