Semiconductor design firm Arm surprised the hardware industry on Feb. 13 with the announcement that it will make a server CPU as well as license its semiconductor designs to other organizations; Meta locked in as the first partner. The move turns Arm from a resource for companies like Qualcomm and NVIDIA into a potential competitor.

The UK-based chip designer pivots to selling its own chips, securing Meta as its first major customer, and challenging long-time industry partners.

The tech provider's moves to build out its own chip business could upend an industry that has long viewed the company as a neutral player.