Intel and IBM Join Forces to Bring Enterprise AI to the Cloud

Intel and IBM to Introduce Gaudi 3 AI Accelerators on IBM Cloud for Enhanced Enterprise AI Scaling

Announcement Overview: Intel and IBM have announced a strategic partnership to launch Intel® Gaudi® 3 AI accelerators as a cloud service on the IBM Cloud platform. This new offering, anticipated to be available by early 2025, aims to make enterprise AI scaling more cost-effective while ensuring security and resiliency. The integration will also support Gaudi 3 within IBM’s watsonx AI and data platform. Notably, IBM Cloud will be the first cloud service provider (CSP) to integrate Gaudi 3, offering availability across both hybrid and on-premises environments.

“To truly harness the power of AI, we need an open and collaborative ecosystem that gives customers diverse and accessible options. By incorporating Gaudi 3 AI accelerators and Xeon CPUs into IBM Cloud, we are setting new standards in AI capability while meeting the demand for cost-effective, secure, and innovative AI computing solutions.”

– Justin Hotard, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Data Center and AI Group, Intel

Significance of the Collaboration: Generative AI has immense potential to transform industries, but the computational demands are high, making considerations like availability, performance, cost, energy efficiency, and security paramount for enterprises. Through this partnership, Intel and IBM aim to reduce the total cost of ownership for AI infrastructure while enhancing performance metrics. Gaudi 3, integrated with Intel’s 5th Gen Xeon processors, will support enterprise AI workloads in both cloud and data centers, offering customers better control and visibility over their software stacks. This simplifies the management of workloads and applications. With the integration of IBM Cloud and Gaudi 3, enterprises will be able to scale AI workloads more cost-effectively while focusing on security, performance, and resilience.

For workloads requiring generative AI inferencing, IBM plans to integrate Gaudi 3 into the watsonx AI and data platform, providing watsonx clients with additional resources to scale their AI workloads across hybrid cloud environments, optimizing the cost-performance ratio of model inferencing.

“IBM is dedicated to empowering our clients with AI and hybrid cloud innovations that align with their business needs. Our focus on security and resilience with IBM Cloud has been central to IBM’s hybrid cloud and AI strategy for our enterprise clients,” said Alan Peacock, General Manager of IBM Cloud. “Utilizing Intel’s Gaudi 3 accelerators on IBM Cloud will offer our clients a versatile enterprise AI solution designed to optimize cost-performance. We are opening new AI business opportunities, enabling clients to test, innovate, and deploy AI inferencing solutions more economically.”

Key Features of the Collaboration: This joint effort between IBM and Intel will deliver Gaudi 3 service capabilities to assist clients in adopting AI technologies. They plan to leverage IBM Cloud’s security and compliance features to support clients across various industries, including those with stringent regulatory requirements.

• Scalability and Flexibility: The combined solution from IBM Cloud and Intel offers scalable and adaptable solutions, allowing clients to modify computing resources according to their needs. This flexibility has the potential to enhance cost savings and operational efficiency.
• Improved Performance and Security: Integrating Gaudi 3 into IBM Cloud Virtual Servers for VPC will enable x86-based enterprises to run applications with enhanced speed and security, improving user experiences.

Looking Ahead: The collaboration between Intel and IBM has deep roots, dating back to the creation of the IBM PC. Their latest endeavor with Gaudi 3 AI accelerators marks another milestone in delivering cutting-edge enterprise AI solutions. IBM Cloud offerings with Gaudi 3 are expected to be generally available in early 2025. Keep an eye out for further updates from Intel and IBM in the coming months. For more information, visit the Intel Gaudi 3 AI accelerators website.