Microsoft’s new AI chip, known as Maia, is facing a delay of at least six months, pushing its mass production back to 2026 instead of 2025, according to a report by The Information that cites sources involved in the project.
When the chip, codenamed Braga, finally goes into production, it is expected to perform below Nvidia’s recently launched Blackwell chip. Microsoft had originally planned to deploy the Braga chip in its data centers this year, but unexpected design changes, staffing issues, and high employee turnover have contributed to the postponement.
Microsoft has not yet responded to a request for comments on this matter.
Like many other major tech companies, Microsoft is focused on developing its own custom processors for artificial intelligence and general applications. This strategy aims to lessen its reliance on expensive Nvidia chips. Competitors such as Amazon and Google have been racing to create their own in-house chips tailored to their specific needs, hoping to enhance performance and cut costs.
Microsoft unveiled the Maia chip in November 2023 but has struggled to scale it up compared to its competitors. On the other hand, Google has made strides with its custom AI chips, the Tensor Processing Units, and recently introduced its seventh-generation chip designed to boost AI application performance. Additionally, Amazon revealed its Trainium3 chip in December, which is expected to launch later this year.
