AI chip startup Etched raises $700M at a $21B valuation — is AI inference the next big infrastructure battle?

AI chip startup Etched has secured $700 million in a recent funding round, elevating its valuation to $21 billion. This significant investment highlights the growing interest in specialized AI inference chips. The development raises questions about whether these chips can challenge Nvidia's current dominance in the AI market, or if GPUs will continue to be the primary choice for most AI workloads, indicating a potential infrastructure battle.