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Microsoft Secures $9.7B AI Infrastructure Deal with IREN for Nvidia GB300 GPU Capacity
Microsoft has signed a $9.7 billion, five-year contract with IREN to access AI cloud infrastructure powered by Nvidia's GB300 GPUs at a Texas facility supporting 750 megawatts of capacity. The deal is part of Microsoft's broader strategy to secure compute resources for AI services, following similar agreements with other providers like Nscale. IREN, which transitioned from bitcoin mining to AI infrastructure, will deploy the GPUs in phases through 2026.
Skynet Chance (+0.01%): Massive compute scaling enables more powerful AI systems that could be harder to control or align, though infrastructure deals alone don't directly address safety mechanisms. The scale suggests rapid capability expansion without proportional emphasis on safety infrastructure.
Skynet Date (-1 days): The $9.7B investment and aggressive timeline through 2026 significantly accelerates the availability of compute resources needed for advanced AI systems. This infrastructure buildout removes bottlenecks that would otherwise slow capability development.
AGI Progress (+0.03%): Major compute capacity expansion directly enables training and deployment of larger, more capable AI models including reasoning and agentic systems. The focus on GB300 GPUs optimized for advanced AI workloads represents meaningful progress toward AGI-relevant capabilities.
AGI Date (-1 days): The substantial investment and rapid deployment timeline (through 2026) removes significant compute constraints that currently limit AGI research. This infrastructure acceleration, combined with similar deals mentioned, suggests AGI timelines may compress due to reduced resource bottlenecks.