Rumors that the USA’s graphics processing unit (GPU) giant Nvidia might buy ARM from Softbank appear to be more than idle gossip during the silly season. According to Bloomberg sources, Nvidia has entered “advanced talks” to buy ARM, which dominates mobile processor IP and is building strength in cloud infrastructure and IoT controllers. That would appear, at first, to be a major step forward for the USA’s national goal of reinvigorating its homegrown hi-tech ecosystem, especially in 5G. Japan is another country which is trying to create a Japan-first 5G industry, and to take advantage of suspicion in some markets about Chinese equipment – so the loss of ARM would be seen as a negative there. However, after a disastrous…