Arm Holdings has highlighted a shift in artificial‑intelligence deployment from cloud‑centric data centres to distributed edge devices. In a recent interview, Vince Jesaitis, the company’s head of global government affairs, explained how the firm sees the next phase of AI evolution and its implications for industry and policy.

Background

Arm Holdings is a major supplier of semiconductor intellectual property. In the past year, its designs have been embedded in more than 30 billion chips that power a wide range of products, from smartphones and earbuds to vehicles and industrial sensors. The company’s architecture is known for low power consumption, making it suitable for devices that operate under strict energy constraints.

Shift to Edge Computing

Jesaitis described the current AI market as moving toward edge computing, where inference tasks are performed locally on devices rather than in remote cloud servers. He noted that this transition offers several advantages. First, the low‑power nature of Arm chips reduces the cost of running compute and cooling, thereby lowering the environmental footprint. Second, local processing shortens latency, which is critical for applications such as instant translation, real‑time control of industrial systems, and rapid activation of safety functions in industrial Internet of Things environments. Third, keeping data on the device eliminates the need to transmit potentially sensitive information off‑premises, a benefit that is especially important for organisations in highly regulated sectors and for those seeking to minimise exposure to data‑breach risks.

Government Engagement

Arm actively engages with policymakers worldwide. The company is involved in workforce development initiatives, collaborating with White House officials on an education coalition aimed at building an “AI‑ready workforce.” Jesaitis highlighted a regulatory divide: the United States prioritises acceleration and innovation, while the European Union focuses on safety, privacy, security, and enforceable standards. Arm seeks to balance these approaches by designing products that meet stringent global compliance requirements while advancing AI capabilities.

Enterprise Implications

For enterprises, Arm’s edge‑focused AI architecture offers scalable solutions that do not require centralisation in the cloud. The company emphasises hardware‑level security, which can mitigate memory‑exploit vulnerabilities that arise when users rely on centrally hosted AI models. In addition, the power‑efficient design aligns with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives that are gaining prominence in Europe and Scandinavia. Arm’s collaboration with cloud hyperscalers such as Amazon Web Services and Microsoft produces chips that combine efficiency with the computational horsepower needed for AI workloads. AWS’s recent SHALAR range of low‑cost, low‑power Arm‑based platforms exemplifies this partnership.

Future Outlook

Jesaitis identified several trends likely to shape the next 12 to 18 months. Global AI exports, particularly from the United States and the Middle East, are expected to satisfy local demand for AI capabilities. Arm is positioned to supply both large