NVIDIA secures non-exclusive access to Groq’s AI inference chip technology and hired CEO Jonathan Ross

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NVIDIA has struck a deal to secure access to Groq’s AI inference chip technology and recruit key executives this week. Reports estimated the transaction at nearly $20 billion. However, neither NVIDIA nor Groq disclosed the price.

Groq said it will keep operating as an independent company under CEO Simon Edwards. It also said GroqCloud will continue without disruption. NVIDIA will receive a non-exclusive license, and Groq will keep serving other customers.

Non-Exclusive Groq Inference License Expands NVIDIA AI Hardware

The NVIDIA Groq agreement targets AI inference, where trained models generate responses for users. NVIDIA leads in model training, yet inference demand keeps rising. Consequently, chipmakers now compete harder for deployments.

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Groq builds inference chips that rely on on-chip SRAM instead of external high-bandwidth memory. That design can speed up response times and reduce dependence on scarce HBM supply. Still, it can limit the size of models that run on the hardware.

NVIDIA aims to fold the licensed processors into its AI factory platform. The company already sells GPUs, networking, and software as a bundled stack. Adding Groq inference technology can widen support for real-time workloads. It also helps NVIDIA answer challenges from AMD and other inference specialists.

Jonathan Ross Joins NVIDIA as Talent Deals Replace Full Acquisitions

Groq said founder Jonathan Ross will join NVIDIA, along with Groq president Sunny Madra and other engineers. Ross helped start Google’s AI chip program. He later co-founded Groq in 2016 with former Google chip engineers.

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NVIDIA will gain the people who know the architecture and its performance tradeoffs. That should speed integration and productization. Meanwhile, Groq will continue operations under new leadership and keep its cloud business running.

The structure mirrors recent AI talent and IP deals across Big Tech. Microsoft, Meta, Google, and Amazon have signed licensing and hiring agreements with startups. Those deals often move faster than traditional acquisitions. They can also reduce delays tied to merger reviews.

Bitcoin and AI Coins Rally After NVIDIA–Groq Headlines

Crypto markets moved higher after reports about the NVIDIA-Groq deal circulated on December 24 and December 25. Bitcoin climbed toward $88,000 and traded near $87,700 during the rebound.

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Traders also tracked a Bitcoin options expiry scheduled for Friday. Analysts linked low volumes to cautious positioning into the event.

Several AI-linked tokens posted gains alongside Bitcoin. Bittensor rose about 6% in the session, while Chainlink and Near also recovered. Tokens such as BAT, VIRTUAL, and other AI narrative assets also advanced, according to market reflectors.

The deal gives NVIDIA faster access to inference technology and specialized talent. At the same time, it leaves Groq’s business intact and keeps the license non-exclusive. Consequently, the AI inference race remains tight as major firms push their own chips.

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