{"id":348918,"date":"2025-06-27T10:54:36","date_gmt":"2025-06-27T17:54:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/msftnewsnow.com\/?p=348918"},"modified":"2025-06-27T17:48:33","modified_gmt":"2025-06-28T00:48:33","slug":"microsofts-braga-ai-chip-production-delayed-2-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/msftnewsnow.com\/microsofts-braga-ai-chip-production-delayed-2-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Microsoft’s Braga AI Chip Ambitions Hit Massive Snag, Production Delayed to 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Microsoft’s next-generation AI chip, code-named “Braga,” faces a significant setback with mass production delayed until at least 2026\u2014a six-month minimum postponement from its original 2025 target. The delay, attributed to design changes, staffing limitations, and high employee turnover, deals a blow to Microsoft’s strategy to reduce dependence on Nvidia’s dominant AI hardware. Worse yet, internal projections indicate Braga will underperform Nvidia’s Blackwell chip<\/a> when it finally launches. As reported by The Information<\/em><\/a>, this development cedes ground to rivals like Google and Amazon, both advancing proprietary AI chips faster.<\/p>\n

Microsoft’s Braga AI Chip Design and Production Challenges<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Microsoft's<\/p>\n

Unanticipated design modifications\u2014reportedly influenced by evolving requirements from partners like OpenAI\u2014forced a retooling of Braga’s architecture. Compounding this, staffing shortages and unusually high turnover within Microsoft’s chip division hampered progress. Three sources directly involved confirm these issues created a “perfect storm” delaying production.<\/span> Microsoft’s silence on the matter (evidenced by repeated non-responses to Reuters and other outlets) underscores the sensitivity of the setback.<\/span><\/p>\n

Braga Performance Shortfalls Against Nvidia<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When Braga reaches production, it is projected to “fall well short” of Nvidia’s Blackwell B200 in key benchmarks.<\/span> Blackwell, launched in late 2024, already outperforms its predecessor (H100) by 33-57% in computer vision tasks and boasts 2.4\u00d7 higher memory bandwidth.<\/span> This performance gap is strategic: Braga aimed to cut Azure’s AI infrastructure costs and boost efficiency. Delaying its rollout forces Microsoft to keep paying premium prices for Nvidia GPUs, squeezing Azure margins.<\/span><\/p>\n

Competitive Landscape Widens<\/strong><\/h2>\n

While Microsoft stalls, rivals accelerate:<\/p>\n