The "Verticalization" of the AI Value Chain The AI landscape is shifting from general software models to a highly specialized, vertically integrated hardware-software stack. From custom silicon to liquid cooling breakthroughs, here is a summary of the critical infrastructure pivots happening right now. 1. The Great Silicon Pivot: Custom Chips over Off-the-Shelf GPUs The reliance on third-party GPUs is diminishing as cloud giants move toward self-sufficiency to mitigate supply