Exclusive: Crusoe’s ‘Neocloud’ to Buy $400 Million in AMD AI Chips for Data Centers

Crusoe, an artificial intelligence-focused cloud computing startup, revealed plans to purchase approximately $400 million worth of AI chips from Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) to power its AI data centers. CEO Chase Lochmiller told Reuters that Crusoe intends to acquire around 13,000 AMD MI355X chips for a new data center cluster in the U.S., which is expected to become operational this fall.

The data center will employ liquid cooling technology and be designed specifically to house AI chips, offering higher performance compared to older infrastructure. Crusoe will rent access to this facility, which can be partitioned among multiple clients or used entirely by a single customer.

Lochmiller emphasized Crusoe’s agility as a smaller startup, competing with larger hyperscalers by leveraging speed, nimbleness, and concentrated engineering talent.

AMD’s MI355X chips, featuring high-bandwidth memory, are optimized for AI inference tasks, providing an alternative to Nvidia’s dominant hardware in the AI chip market. While many AI cloud services rely on Nvidia chips, AMD is positioning itself to capture a share by partnering with companies like Crusoe.

Lochmiller described this approach as a validation of the “neocloud” strategy — specialized cloud infrastructure platforms tailored for AI workloads that add significant value to the AI ecosystem by supporting large-scale users.