Yazılar

Temasek Joins Microsoft, BlackRock, MGX in Major AI Infrastructure Investment Consortium

/in /tarafından

Singapore’s state investment firm Temasek has officially joined the AI Infrastructure Partnership (AIP), a major global consortium backed by Microsoft, BlackRock, and MGX, according to presentation slides shared during BlackRock’s investor day on Thursday. The consortium also includes BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners.

AIP, formed in September, aims to invest over $30 billion initially into building the data centers and energy facilities required to support artificial intelligence applications, such as ChatGPT. The partnership ultimately seeks to mobilize up to $100 billion, including debt financing, with a primary focus on projects within the United States.

Temasek’s involvement comes shortly after the Kuwait Investment Authority became the first non-founding sovereign wealth fund to join the group earlier this month. The consortium’s partners also include key AI players like Nvidia and Elon Musk’s xAI.

Ravi Lambah, Temasek’s head of strategic initiatives, commented on the development: “Temasek’s investment in the AI Infrastructure Partnership reflects our focus on the big shifts and trends of the future. AI is potentially the most transformative and impactful technology for all sectors and businesses.”

The financial terms of Temasek’s investment were not disclosed. As of March 31, 2024, Temasek reported a net portfolio value of S$389 billion (approximately $304 billion), according to its official website.

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

/in /tarafından

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.

CoreWeave Gains Role in Google-OpenAI Cloud Deal to Supply AI Computing Power

/in /tarafından

CoreWeave, a specialized cloud computing company built on Nvidia GPUs, has become a key provider in Google’s new partnership with OpenAI, sources told Reuters. Under the deal, CoreWeave will supply computing capacity to Google Cloud, which will then sell these resources to OpenAI to support growing demand for AI services such as ChatGPT. Google will also contribute some of its own computing infrastructure directly to OpenAI.

This arrangement underscores the evolving relationship between major cloud hyperscalers like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon and emerging “neocloud” providers like CoreWeave, which focus heavily on AI workloads. CoreWeave went public in March and already has a significant presence in OpenAI’s infrastructure, holding a five-year $11.9 billion contract and an equity investment of $350 million from OpenAI.

The partnership was expanded last month with an additional agreement worth up to $4 billion through 2029. Bringing Google Cloud onboard as a customer helps CoreWeave diversify its revenue while leveraging Google’s deep pockets to secure better financing for data center expansions. For Google, it enhances its cloud business by tapping into the surging AI market and positions it as a neutral provider of compute resources amid competition with Amazon and Microsoft.

CoreWeave’s stock has surged over 270% since its IPO, reflecting strong investor confidence despite concerns over leverage and GPU demand shifts. Meanwhile, Microsoft, CoreWeave’s former largest customer, is reconsidering its data center strategy and renegotiating investment terms with OpenAI.

Neither CoreWeave, Google, nor OpenAI commented on the details of the deal.