Qualcomm buys AI startup Modular for $3.9 billion in stock to accelerate data center push

CNBCQualcomm has agreed to acquire Modular, an AI software startup, in an all-stock deal valued at approximately $3.9 billion, marking one of the chip giant's largest acquisitions. The purchase aims to bolster Qualcomm's software stack and expand its footprint in AI infrastructure and data center markets, with the company targeting $15 billion in data center chip sales by 2029. News of the deal, combined with strong earnings forecasts, ignited a broader rally in AI chip stocks worth an estimated $400 billion in market capitalization.