Broadcom launched its Thor Ultra networking chip, with the hope of enabling data center operators to deploy hundreds of thousands of AI processors in massive computing clusters, Reuters reported.
Thor Ultra doubles bandwidth compared to its predecessor and aims to serve as the link between AI systems and broader data center operations. The chip is said to help operators move information inside facilities running large language models like ChatGPT.
“I’m not surprised that anybody who’s in the GPU business wants to make sure that they are participating in the networking,” Ram Velaga, a Broadcom senior vice president, told Reuters.
“In the distributed computing system, network plays an extremely important role in building these large clusters.”
The launch comes a day after OpenAI announced that it tapped Broadcom to build its first in-house AI processors, targeting about 10 gigawatts of capacity starting in the second half of 2026. Broadcom CEO Hock Tan has said the company’s addressable AI chip opportunity could reach $60 billion to $90 billion by 2027.
