Microsoft Plans Maia 300 AI Chip Launch This Fall With Target of One Million Units

Microsoft is set to unveil its Maia 300 AI chip this fall, with a production target of one million units, according to reports published in August 2026.

The chip is designed to handle AI computing workloads in Microsoft's data centers and is intended to reduce the company's dependence on Nvidia's processors. Microsoft has been developing custom silicon as part of a broader push by major tech companies to control more of their AI infrastructure.

The Maia 300 follows earlier versions of Microsoft's custom AI chips. The company has not disclosed the chip's full technical specifications or which manufacturing partner will produce it.

The announcement comes as the AI chip market has become intensely competitive. Nvidia remains the dominant supplier of data center GPUs, but AMD, Intel, Google, Amazon, and Meta have all invested in custom silicon to reduce costs and improve performance for their specific AI workloads.

Rising memory costs, driven by data center demand, have pushed hardware prices higher across the industry. Microsoft recently raised Xbox console prices in Europe and the UK by up to 200 euros, citing increased component costs.

The Maia 300 production target of one million units would represent a significant scale-up from earlier custom chip efforts. Analysts said the move signals Microsoft's long-term commitment to building its own AI computing stack rather than relying entirely on third-party suppliers.