Microsoft stock reaches one-year high amid plans to expand AI chip production

Huo Xing Finance reports that on October 12, according to BIT (Bit.com) market data, Microsoft’s stock reached its highest level in nearly a year, rising 0.8% intraday. On the news front, Microsoft plans to gradually increase the proportion of its in-house AI chips used in data centers to reduce reliance on NVIDIA GPUs. Microsoft stated that it will primarily rely on its proprietary Maia chip architecture to handle AI model requests and intends to deploy gigawatt-scale computing power on the Maia series chips. On Monday, Microsoft unveiled its third-generation AI accelerator chip, the Maia 300, which is expected to enter production in 2027. Each data center rack can accommodate 96 Maia 300 chips—twice the number of the previous-generation Maia 200—and can process up to seven times more AI tokens per rack compared to GPUs, with approximately 40% higher token processing efficiency per megawatt. Microsoft said the Maia 300 is expected to enhance AI service performance and reduce data center operating costs. Analysts at Evercore ISI estimate that by the first quarter of 2027, Maia chips will account for approximately 10% of Microsoft’s AI chip spending.