April 20 (Reuters) - Marvell Technology's shares jumped 6% in premarket trading on Monday following a report that Alphabet's Google is in talks with the chip designer to develop two new chips aimed at running AI models more efficiently.
The potential deal could involve two distinct chips: a memory processing unit to complement Google's tensor processing unit and a new TPU built for running AI models, The Information reported on Sunday, citing two people with direct knowledge of the discussions.
Big Tech companies such as Google and Facebook-parent Meta are investing heavily to reduce dependence on external chip suppliers by expanding their custom chip efforts amid Silicon Valley's intensifying AI rivalry.
Google deploys TPUs for training AI models and to respond to user queries, a process known as inferencing, and works with Broadcom to design its chips.
The report signals that Google might be looking to diversify from Broadcom amid surging demand for its chips as businesses seek alternatives to Nvidia's pricey chips.
AI lab Anthropic uses a range of chips, including TPUs designed by Google, to develop and run its AI software and chatbot Claude.
Google and Marvell did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
Last week, Meta extended its deal with Broadcom to produce several generations of custom AI processors. The social media giant paid Broadcom $2.3 billion last year for AI chip design and related services.
Both Marvell and its larger rival Broadcom help clients with designing chips, as growing adoption of AI tools boost demand for specialized processors used in advanced data centers.
Last month, Nvidia invested $2 billion in Marvell in an effort to make it easier for customers to use the custom AI chips that Marvell designs with Nvidia's networking gear and central processors.
Marvell, which expects its revenue to approach $15 billion in fiscal 2028, is set to add more than $7 billion to its market value of $122.15 billion, if the premarket gains hold.
Marvell trades at 33.35 times the estimates of its earnings for the next 12 months, compared with 27.84 for Broadcom.
(Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)
