SemiAnalysis vs Similarweb

SemiAnalysis Tests Engram Offloading to DRAM and SSD

SemiAnalysis analyzes the Engram architecture, a model design that extends standard token embeddings with learned multi-token lookups, allowing for efficient parameter offloading to DRAM or SSD. This reduces HBM capacity requirements for models like DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash. Their experiments show that offloading Engram tables to DRAM can improve performance per dollar, while SSD offloading is currently not economically viable due to overhead. The article also benchmarks inference performance across NVIDIA and AMD GPUs, highlighting NVIDIA's CUDA moat and AMD's slower software support. The analysis includes findings on model behavior, such as gate scan results and ablation studies, and discusses the implications for HBM demand and model architecture innovation.

• SemiAnalysis tested offloading Engram tables to DRAM and SSD for DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash.
• Offloading to DRAM improved performance per dollar, reducing needed HBM capacity.
• SSD offloading was not economically viable, with DRAM delivering 121 million tokens per dollar versus 52 million for SSD.

SemiAnalysis Maps 300 US Datacenter Moratoriums, Finds Minimal Impact

SemiAnalysis published a detailed analysis of datacenter moratoriums in the US, arguing that the widespread narrative that these restrictions are killing the datacenter buildout is inaccurate. The analysis covers over 300 local moratoriums and four state-level actions (New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, Oregon). Using a project-by-project, parcel-level analysis of over 6,000 datacenters, the firm found that only approximately 1,525 MW of planned capacity is genuinely delayed by local moratoriums, representing 7.6% of the capacity sitting inside restricted boundaries. The firm's Datacenter Industry Model forecasts +38 GW of new US datacenter IT capacity in 2027, more than double 2026. The report also discusses public sentiment, finding that 46% of Americans view datacenters unfavorably, and examines the political dynamics driving moratoriums.

• SemiAnalysis maps over 300 local datacenter moratoriums and bans across the US, plus four state-level actions (New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, Oregon).
• Only 1,525 MW of planned capacity is directly delayed by local moratoriums, which is 7.6% of the ~20 GW exposed.
• SemiAnalysis forecasts +38 GW of US datacenter IT capacity delivered in 2027, more than double 2026.

Rubin NVL72 Agentic Inference: 67x Better Performance per Dollar

SemiAnalysis reports first verified agentic inference results for NVIDIA's Rubin NVL72 platform using their AgentX benchmark. Even on early pre-release software, Rubin delivers up to 67x better performance per dollar of TCO compared to GB300 in certain configurations, and significantly higher throughput per MW. The analysis projects Rubin can generate over 2x more profit per gigawatt than Blackwell, with revenue and profit advantages of 39% and 42% respectively at a fixed power budget. Dynamic power shifting (DSX MaxLPS) allows more GPUs per datacenter footprint. The article highlights Rubin's superiority over H200 and MI355X, with recommendations for inference providers to adopt Rubin for cost-efficient token generation.

• Rubin NVL72 achieves up to 67x the throughput per TCO of GB300 in specific scenarios.
• Rubin delivers up to 7x better token throughput per MW than Blackwell in real-world tests.
• Rubin can generate over 2x more profit per gigawatt than Blackwell.

Generative AI to Become New Discovery Layer in E-Commerce

A report by Similarweb indicates that generative AI is increasingly influencing online purchase decisions, appearing in over 11% of shopping journeys prior to transactions, up from under 5% two years ago. However, traditional search remains crucial, with 89% of AI-influenced journeys also using search engines. AI is primarily used in early stages for problem definition and product comparison, while search is relied upon for specific product checks. This creates challenges in attribution, as last-click models often misattribute AI-driven conversions to search or direct traffic. Retailers must now optimize for visibility across multiple digital layers, including AI-generated answers and on-platform shopping assistants like Amazon's, and ensure structured product data to enhance AI recommendations.

• Generative AI appears in over 11% of shopping journeys before a transaction, up from under 5% two years ago.
• In 89% of AI-influenced purchase journeys, a search engine is also used.
• AI is used mainly for early-stage tasks like problem definition, category learning, and option comparison.

Similarweb State of Ecommerce 2026 Report Details How AI is Changing Shopper Journey

Similarweb released its State of Ecommerce 2026 Report, detailing how AI is changing the shopper journey. Additionally, the company announced a partnership with NIQ to advance agentic commerce measurement and unveiled a solution to unlock AI ad placements across ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, and AI Mode.

AI agents reshape commerce, measurement must catch up

As AI agents increasingly handle product discovery and purchase, brands, retailers, and platforms are investing in new measurement strategies. Google's Universal Commerce Protocol and OpenAI's Agentic Commerce Protocol enable end-to-end shopping within AI experiences. NIQ and Similarweb have partnered to integrate AI-driven discovery measurement with retail sales data, helping brands gauge visibility and conversion. Key measurement areas include consumer intent, agentic shelf visibility, product content readiness, AI-driven traffic, and omnichannel purchase correlation. Emerging capabilities include OpenAI's ChatGPT pre-purchase signals, Mastercard and Visa's 'Know Your Agent' frameworks, and cross-channel identity resolution. Agentic commerce measurement is nascent, but these advancements are closing the gap between AI influence and sales attribution.

• NIQ and Similarweb announced advancements to agentic commerce measurement, adding measurement to NIQ's Commerce Intelligence.
• Google's Universal Commerce Protocol and OpenAI's Agentic Commerce Protocol allow complete shopping journeys within AI experiences.
• OpenAI's ChatGPT can signal pre-purchasing stages like product considerations and comparisons.