Microsoft expands Azure partnership with AMD

Microsoft is expanding its Azure partnership with AMD across GPUs, CPUs, networking and software. The centerpiece is Microsoft’s planned deployment of the AMD Helios Rackscale Solution to power frontier model AI inference for Microsoft, AI customers and Azure AI services.

AMD Helios combines AMD Instinct MI455X GPUs, AMD EPYC ‘Venice’ CPUs, Pensando networking and ROCm software in an open rackscale platform built for large-scale AI training and inference. Azure will also add two new AMD EPYC CPU-powered VM series and broaden its use of Pensando DPUs for Azure networking services. AMD will begin shipping Helios to customers, including Microsoft, in the second half of 2026.