OpenAI's $300B Oracle Deal, Intel's AI Chip Breakthrough, Microsoft Grows in Netherlands - Silicon Brief #35

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In this edition of Silicon Brief, we're diving into the latest developments in AI chips and data centers. Intel has made headlines with its Arc Pro B-Series GPUs and Xeon 6, which have excelled in the MLPerf Inference v5.1 benchmarks. Meanwhile, Nvidia has unveiled its new Rubin CPX GPU, designed for long-context inference, marking a significant step forward in AI processing capabilities.

On the data center front, OpenAI is in discussions for a massive $500 billion AI project with Indian firms, highlighting the growing demand for AI infrastructure. Additionally, Microsoft has expanded its data center operations in the Netherlands, further cementing its commitment to supporting AI and cloud technologies. These developments underscore the rapid evolution and investment in AI technologies across the globe.

Solaren Renewable Energy Solutions Corp. highlights the urgent need for energy planning in the Philippines due to AI and data center growth, while Capstone Green Energy partners with Microgrids 4 AI to develop modular AI-ready microgrid-powered data centers, integrating microturbines with compute pods to enhance AI infrastructure.

Microsoft Research has developed a room-temperature analog optical computer to enhance energy efficiency in solving complex optimization problems. Meanwhile, Ayar Labs has partnered with AIchip and TSMC to advance AI infrastructure using co-packaged optics technology, addressing data bottlenecks in AI systems.

Malaysia is imposing restrictions on data centre growth, potentially affecting China's access to AI chips. Meanwhile, a new bill in New Jersey aims to fast-track AI data centers using small modular reactors, introduced by Assemblyman Gregory Myhre to enhance investment in AI and energy sectors.

In recent developments, OpenAI has signed a historic $300 billion cloud deal with Oracle to acquire computing power over five years, marking a significant milestone in cloud contracts. Meanwhile, Rovision has committed to a $290 million investment in a new data center near Navi Mumbai, following a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Maharashtra, highlighting the ongoing expansion of data center infrastructure globally.

Intel Arc Pro B-Series GPUs and Xeon 6 processors have demonstrated significant performance improvements in AI inference tasks, according to the latest MLPerf Inference v5.1 benchmarks. Meanwhile, Tensordyne claims its new AI processor offers eight times more power efficiency than NVIDIA's GB200 NVL72, utilizing a logarithmic number system to enhance energy efficiency and reduce silicon area.