Articles tagged with "Microsoft"
Microsoft won’t stop buying AI chips from Nvidia, AMD, even after launching its own, Nadella says
Microsoft has introduced its first in-house AI chip, the Maia 200, deployed in one of its data centers with plans for broader rollout. Designed as an "AI inference powerhouse," Maia 200 is optimized for running AI models in production and reportedly outperforms competing chips, including Google's latest Tensor Processing Units (TPUs). This move aligns with a broader industry trend where cloud giants develop proprietary AI chips to address supply constraints and high costs associated with Nvidia’s latest hardware. Despite launching Maia 200, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella emphasized that the company will continue purchasing AI chips from Nvidia and AMD, highlighting ongoing partnerships and mutual innovation. Nadella noted that vertical integration does not preclude using third-party components, reflecting a pragmatic approach to balancing in-house development with external technology. The Maia 200 chip will initially be used by Microsoft’s Superintelligence team, led by a former Google DeepMind co-founder, to build advanced AI models aimed at reducing reliance on external providers like OpenAI and Anthropic
energyAI-chipsMicrosoftNvidiaAMDcloud-computingAI-inferenceMicrosoft pledges water-positive AI data centers, full power payments
Microsoft has launched its Community First AI Infrastructure initiative to address environmental and economic concerns linked to the rapid expansion of its U.S. AI data centers. The company commits to preventing increases in residential electricity prices and avoiding strain on local water supplies caused by its facilities. Key pledges include paying electricity rates that fully cover the costs imposed by data centers, funding necessary grid upgrades, and collaborating early with utilities to plan power needs. Microsoft has already supported nearly eight gigawatts of new electricity generation in the Midwest, exceeding its current regional consumption, and aims to push for rate structures that prevent residential customers from subsidizing data center growth. On water usage, Microsoft plans to reduce data center water use intensity by 40% by 2030, relying on closed-loop cooling systems and minimizing potable water use. The company will fund water infrastructure improvements where local systems face capacity limits and has committed over $25 million for water and sewer upgrades near a Virginia data center. Additionally, Microsoft pledges to replenish more water than it
energydata-centersAI-infrastructurewater-conservationelectricity-gridsustainable-technologyMicrosoftMicrosoft announces glut of new data centers but says it won’t let your electricity bill go up
Microsoft has announced a significant expansion of its AI data center infrastructure, reaffirming its commitment to build new facilities despite growing local opposition and activism against data center projects across the U.S. In response to community concerns, the company pledged a “community-first” approach, promising to be a “good neighbor” by ensuring that its electricity consumption does not increase local residents’ power bills. Microsoft plans to collaborate closely with utility companies and regulatory bodies to pay rates that fully cover its share of the local grid’s costs, thereby preventing the financial burden from being passed on to residential customers. Additionally, Microsoft committed to creating jobs in the communities hosting its data centers and minimizing water usage, addressing two major points of contention around data center development. These promises come amid heightened political and public scrutiny, with numerous activist groups mobilizing against data center expansions and some projects already canceled or delayed due to community backlash. The company’s assurances also align with recent statements from political leaders emphasizing the importance of protecting consumers from increased utility costs linked to
energydata-centerselectricityinfrastructuresustainabilityMicrosoftAI-infrastructureMicrosoft Has a Plan to Keep Its Data Centers From Raising Your Electric Bill
Microsoft announced a series of initiatives aimed at addressing community concerns about the impact of its data centers on local electricity rates and resources. Speaking at an event in Virginia, Microsoft vice chair Brad Smith acknowledged public worries about rising electricity costs, water supply, and job implications linked to data center expansions. The company committed to working with public utilities to request higher electricity rates for data centers, aiming to prevent these facilities from increasing residents’ utility bills. This move comes amid growing scrutiny and opposition to data centers across the U.S., where their energy demands contribute to rising electricity prices and have led to stalled or canceled projects. The announcement follows President Donald Trump’s recent pledge to collaborate with major tech companies, including Microsoft, to ensure data centers do not inflate customer utility bills. While the Trump administration has prioritized expediting data center development—removing environmental protections and encouraging construction on federal lands—local opposition has intensified, cutting across political lines. Rising electricity bills, driven by aging grid infrastructure and increased demand from data centers, have
energydata-centerselectricity-billselectric-gridenergy-consumptionMicrosoftutility-ratesMicrosoft’s plan to fix its chip problem is, partly, to let OpenAI do the heavy lifting
Microsoft is addressing its semiconductor challenges by leveraging its partnership with OpenAI, which is developing custom AI chips in collaboration with Broadcom. Under a revised agreement, Microsoft has secured intellectual property rights to OpenAI’s chip designs and will have access to these innovations, allowing it to adopt and extend the technology for its own use. This move comes as Microsoft’s chip efforts have lagged behind competitors like Google and Amazon, making the partnership a pragmatic solution to accelerate its AI hardware capabilities. CEO Satya Nadella emphasized that Microsoft benefits from OpenAI’s system-level innovations, gaining a significant advantage without bearing the full burden of chip development. The agreement also grants Microsoft continued access to OpenAI’s AI models through 2032, though OpenAI retains exclusive rights to its consumer hardware products. This collaboration highlights the complexity and cost of building advanced AI chips, with Microsoft opting to rely on OpenAI’s expertise and a strategic contract to bolster its position in the AI hardware space.
semiconductorsAI-chipsMicrosoftOpenAIchip-designtechnology-collaborationcustom-hardwareMicrosoft inks $9.7B deal with Australia’s IREN for AI cloud capacity
Microsoft has secured a significant $9.7 billion, five-year contract with Australia-based IREN to expand its AI cloud computing capacity. This deal grants Microsoft access to advanced compute infrastructure equipped with Nvidia GB300 GPUs, which will be deployed in phases through 2026 at IREN’s facility in Childress, Texas, designed to support up to 750 megawatts of capacity. Separately, IREN is investing about $5.8 billion in GPUs and equipment from Dell to support this infrastructure expansion. The agreement follows Microsoft’s recent launch of AI models optimized for reasoning, agentic AI systems, and multi-modal generative AI, reflecting the company's efforts to meet growing demand for AI services. Microsoft has also previously acquired approximately 200,000 Nvidia GB300 GPUs for data centers in Europe and the U.S. IREN, originally a bitcoin-mining firm, has pivoted successfully to AI workloads, leveraging its extensive GPU resources. CEO Daniel Roberts anticipates that the Microsoft contract will utilize only
energycloud-computingAI-infrastructureGPUsdata-centersMicrosoftNvidiaMicrosoft buys another 100 MW of solar, this time in Japan
Microsoft has agreed to purchase 100 megawatts of solar power capacity from Japanese developer Shizen Energy, continuing its series of renewable energy investments to support its expanding computing infrastructure. The company already operates two data centers in Japan and plans to invest $2.9 billion in the country over the next year, underscoring its commitment to growing its presence there. Solar energy is increasingly favored by tech firms and data center operators due to its relatively low cost and rapid deployment, with projects typically completed within 18 months and power generation often starting before full completion. Microsoft has been a significant buyer of solar power recently, having contracted over 1 gigawatt of solar capacity since the beginning of the year, reflecting its strategy to meet rising compute demands sustainably.
energysolar-powerrenewable-energyMicrosoftdata-centersJapanclean-energyHackers exploiting SharePoint zero-day seen targeting government agencies, say researchers
Researchers have identified hackers exploiting a previously unknown zero-day vulnerability in Microsoft SharePoint, primarily targeting government organizations. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued a warning about the active exploitation of this flaw, which affects on-premises SharePoint servers but not the cloud versions. Initial attacks have focused on a limited set of targets, including U.S. federal and state agencies, universities, and energy companies, suggesting the involvement of a government-affiliated threat actor. Experts note that while the initial exploitation has been relatively contained, the vulnerability remains unpatched across many organizations, with estimates of 9,000 to 10,000 vulnerable SharePoint instances accessible online. This exposure raises concerns that other malicious actors, beyond the original government-linked hackers, may begin exploiting the flaw more broadly. Microsoft advises organizations to either apply the patch promptly or disconnect their SharePoint servers from the internet to mitigate the risk. Security researchers continue to monitor the situation as the campaign evolves.
energycybersecuritySharePointgovernment-agencieszero-day-vulnerabilityhackingMicrosoftMicrosoft to build world's most powerful quantum computer in Denmark
Microsoft, in collaboration with Denmark’s investment fund EIFO and the Novo Nordisk Foundation, is launching QuNorth, a project aimed at building the world’s most powerful commercial quantum computer, named Magne, in the Nordic region. With a €80 million ($93 million) investment, QuNorth seeks to address the Nordic countries' current lack of access to advanced Level 2 quantum systems, which are crucial for conducting reliable and complex quantum computations. Magne will feature 50 logical qubits supported by 1,200 physical qubits, making it one of the first Level 2 quantum computers globally. This full-stack quantum computer will integrate hardware, software, operating systems, and control electronics, with Atom Computing providing the hardware and Microsoft supplying Azure software tailored to Atom’s neutral atom technology. Construction of Magne is set to begin in late 2025, with completion expected by early 2027. QuNorth will establish a leadership team, including a CEO and research positions in partnership with Microsoft,
quantum-computingMicrosoftquantum-technologyNordic-regionLevel-2-quantum-systemsAtom-ComputingQuNorth-projectBreakneck data center growth challenges Microsoft’s sustainability goals
energysustainabilitycarbon-emissionsdata-centersmaterialsMicrosoftclean-energy'Cơn sốt' trung tâm dữ liệu AI đang chững lại?
energydata-centersAIMicrosoftAmazonelectricity-consumptioncapacity-managementMicrosoft CEO says up to 30% of the company’s code was written by AI
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