[NEW YORK] Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Nvidia’s nearest rival in artificial intelligence (AI) processors, said Oracle will deploy a large batch of its forthcoming MI450 chips next year.
Oracle said in a statement on Tuesday (Oct 14) that it would put 50,000 of the semiconductors in data centre computers starting in the third quarter of 2026. The systems will contain AMD processors and networking components.
The announcement is the latest in a frenzy of commitments by Big Tech and AI companies to build more computing infrastructure. They are all racing to meet demand for AI services that they say is skyrocketing.
It is also another endorsement of AMD technology. The Santa Clara, California-based company is working to become a credible alternative to Nvidia, the dominant provider of AI processors.
Shares of the chipmaker rose 1.4 per cent at 9:46 am in New York, while Oracle’s stock fell 4.1 per cent.
Like its much larger rival, AMD offers so-called AI accelerators, based on graphics processing units, as well as general-purpose processors and some networking chips. It is now trying to up its game further and match Nvidia’s ability to provide data centre owners with complete computers.
BT in your inbox
Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.
In the second quarter, AMD shipped about 100,000 AI processors, said research firm IDC. Nvidia delivered 1.5 million in the same period.
Oracle and AMD did not specify when they expect to complete the installation, but they see it expanding in 2027 “and beyond”. The companies also did not say how much of AMD’s total supply would be claimed by Oracle.
The Oracle announcement follows an AMD deal with OpenAI, the AI startup that has clinched computing agreements with a number of chipmakers. In that longer-term partnership, OpenAI is slated to buy 6 gigawatts’ worth of computers featuring AMD accelerators over multiple years.
On Monday (Oct 13), OpenAI also announced an agreement with chipmaker Broadcom. That deal is meant to add 10 gigawatts of capacity. BLOOMBERG
