OpenAI backer Microsoft (MSFT, Financial) bought 485,000 Nvidia (NVDA, Financial) Hopper AI chips in 2024, more than twice the acquisitions of its nearest US rivals, based on estimates by tech consultant Omdia quoted by the Financial Times.
While Amazon (AMZN, Financial) ordered 196,000 and Google (GOOGL, Financial) acquired 169,000; Meta platforms (META, Financial), Nvidia's second-largest U.S. customer, bought 224,000 Hopper chips. Chinese enterprises ByteDance and Tencent (TCEHY) each ordered roughly 230,000 Nvidia processors, including the H20 variant, which conforms with U.S. export limitations. Less power than in Nvidia's Hopper series is found in the H20 chips.
Omdia bases its projections on supply chain data, publicly released capital expenditures, and server shipment records. Microsoft's strong drive to increase its AI infrastructure is reflected in the robust demand for AI processors, supporting its leadership in artificial intelligence research and cloud services. It's important to note that MSFT stock is up a superb 19% YTD, positioning it as one of the top AI stocks to buy.
