Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is poised to make significant strides in the artificial intelligence (AI) chip market, as highlighted by its forthcoming "Advancing AI" event. Scheduled for Thursday in San Jose, California, the event will feature AMD CEO Lisa Su, who is expected to detail the company's strategic plans for AI chips and systems. This initiative underscores AMD's concerted effort to challenge Nvidia's dominant position in the rapidly expanding AI chip sector.

A core focus of the event will be the unveiling of AMD's forthcoming MI400 series of AI chips, slated for launch next year. AMD has committed to an annual release schedule for these chips, mirroring Nvidia's successful strategy with its Blackwell series, indicating a direct and sustained competition in product development. The "Advancing AI" event will particularly emphasize AMD's data center chips and other related hardware, signaling a targeted approach to high-growth segments of the AI market.

AMD's ambition extends beyond individual chip performance to offering complete AI systems. This capability has been bolstered by the recent acquisition of server builder ZT Systems in March, enabling AMD to launch integrated server-rack-sized AI products, similar to those offered by Nvidia. Furthermore, AMD recognizes the critical role of software in AI chip adoption. The company has made dedicated efforts to enhance its ROCm software platform, which has historically struggled to gain traction against Nvidia's widely adopted CUDA, a key component of Nvidia's market dominance.

To accelerate its AI ambitions, Santa Clara, California-based AMD has also embarked on a series of strategic talent acquisitions. In recent weeks, the company hired the entire team from chip startup Untether AI and, more recently, several key employees from generative AI startup Lamini, including its co-founder and CEO. These hires are crucial for strengthening AMD's chip design and AI software development teams.

Despite the increasingly stringent curbs on AI chip exports to China, AMD remains optimistic about its prospects. When reporting earnings in May, Lisa Su reiterated the company's expectation of strong double-digit growth from its AI chips. This confidence reflects AMD's aggressive strategy to innovate, integrate, and expand its footprint in the competitive global AI market, positioning itself as a formidable contender against established leaders like Nvidia.