AMD is expanding cooperation with Microsoft (MS) in artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud infrastructure. It plans to accelerate its push into the AI market by supplying next-generation AI server platforms and server central processing units (CPUs) to Azure, MS's cloud service.
AMD said on the 20th (local time) that it will expand a long-term strategic partnership with MS across GPUs, CPUs, networking, and software.
Under the cooperation, MS will introduce the next-generation AI server platform "Helios" to Azure. Helios is a server system that integrates AI accelerators (GPUs), server CPUs, networking equipment, and AI software, and MS plans to use it to operate its own AI services and AI services for corporations.
AMD plans to supply Helios to major customers, including MS, starting in the second half of this year.
MS will also expand adoption of AMD's latest server CPUs. Azure will add two new virtual machines (VMs) based on AMD server CPUs, which will be used for large-scale computing tasks such as AI data processing and semiconductor design.
The two companies will also strengthen cooperation in data center networking. AMD will increase supply of networking semiconductors and, together with MS, jointly develop technologies that improve communication performance and power efficiency in data centers.
AMD CEO Lisa Su said, "MS's adoption is an important milestone in the expansion of next-generation AI infrastructure," adding, "We will help customers operate AI workloads more efficiently."