Qualcomm CEO Amon: AI Agents to Replace Apps; Company Re-enters Data Center CPU Market

Qualcomm (QCOM) CEO Cristiano Amon announced the company is developing over 40 AI-enabled consumer device designs, predicting AI agents will become the new application platform. Simultaneously, Qualcomm confirmed its re-entry into the data center CPU market and is pushing into AI inference acceleration, aiming to challenge NVIDIA and AMD. Amon highlighted devices like smart jewelry and smart glasses, designed for constant, context-aware AI interaction. Qualcomm's data center strategy includes Oryon-based CPUs and AI200/AI250 accelerators, targeting large-scale commercialization from late 2026 to early 2027. The global AI agent market is projected to reach $53 billion by 2030, growing at a 46% CAGR from 2025. Qualcomm's stock has surged approximately 75% since April 2026, reflecting market re-evaluation of its AI infrastructure potential.