On the heels of successful a 30,000 GPU cluster deal with Oracle, AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) immediately introduced a transfer into the AI infrastructure enviornment, reflecting a pattern towards integration — or verticalization — of chip makers and the AI manufacturing unit, outlined by no less than one firm (information middle firm Vertiv) the AI “unit of compute.”
AMD introduced the acquisition of ZT Methods, a supplier of AI and cloud infrastructure gear for hyperscales. In line with a report in the Wall Street Journal, the acquisition, first disclosed final August, was priced at $4.9 billion. AMD stated the acquisition will allow “a brand new class of end-to-end AI options primarily based on the mix of AMD CPU, GPU and networking silicon, open-source AMD ROCm software program and rack-scale programs capabilities.” An “AI manufacturing unit” is a targeted and specialised methodology for constructing information facilities that help AI deployment at scale.
GPU market chief Nvidia additionally has invested in AI infrastructure, together with a multi-year relationship with GPU information middle firm CoreWeave, whose IPO last week was buoyed by Nvidia.
“With the speedy tempo of innovation in AI, decreasing the end-to-end design and deployment time of cluster-level information middle AI programs shall be a big aggressive benefit for our clients,” stated Forrest Norrod, EVP/GM, Knowledge Heart Options enterprise unit at AMD. “Buying ZT Methods is a big milestone in our AI technique to ship management coaching and inferencing options which can be optimized for our clients’ distinctive atmosphere, ready-to-deploy at scale, and primarily based on our open ecosystem method that mixes open-source software program, {industry} customary networking applied sciences and now ZT Methods’ management programs design and buyer enablement experience. ”
He stated AMD welcomes Frank Zhang, Doug Huang and different managers and colleagues from the ZT Methods group to AMD, “the place collectively we are going to provide clients each selection and pace to market, permitting them to spend money on key areas the place they select to distinguish their AI choices.”
AMD expects the transaction to be accretive on a non-GAAP foundation by the tip of 2025. The world-class design groups will be part of the AMD Knowledge Heart Options enterprise unit led by AMD Government Vice President Forrest Norrod. AMD is actively engaged with a number of potential strategic companions to accumulate ZT Methods’ industry-leading U.S.-based information middle infrastructure manufacturing enterprise in 2025.
Former ZT Methods Founder and CEO Frank Zhang joins AMD as SVP of ZT Manufacturing, reporting to Norrod. Former ZT Methods President Doug Huang joins AMD as SVP of Knowledge Heart Platform Engineering, additionally reporting to Norrod. On this function, he’ll lead design and buyer enablement groups, working with the AMD Knowledge Heart Options enterprise unit and AI Group.
