Microsoft Unveils Plans for Next-Gen AI Chip, Maia 300
Microsoft is planning to unveil its next-generation AI chip, Maia 300, this fall, according to a report by The Information. The company introduced its Maia AI chip in November 2023 but has lagged behind rivals such as Alphabet and Amazon in scaling up its in-house chip efforts.
The report states that Microsoft is seeking to reduce its reliance on Nvidia's costly processors. Google began recognizing revenue from direct sales of its custom AI chips, called Tensor Processing Units, in the quarter ended June, while Amazon has also seen growing adoption of its processors, including its Trainium chips.
Microsoft has been in talks with chipmaker TSMC to secure manufacturing capacity for more than 300,000 units of the Maia 300 chip for delivery in 2027. The company aims to significantly ramp up production and persuade major cloud customers such as Anthropic to adopt the chip.