Microsoft has announced the launch of two new infrastructure chips designed to enhance data center capabilities, focusing on accelerating artificial intelligence (AI) tasks and strengthening data security. This major development was revealed at the Ignite conference on November 19.

The company has heavily invested in the creation of specialized chips to handle both general applications and AI-related tasks. This move aligns with the strategy of other tech giants, who have also developed custom chips to optimize performance and reduce costs.

Details of the New Chips
The first chip, called the Azure Integrated HSM (Hardware Security Module), is designed to boost security by securely storing encrypted data and other sensitive information. This chip will be installed on all new servers for data centers starting next year.

The second chip, known as the Data Processing Unit (DPU), combines multiple server functions into a single chip dedicated to cloud storage data management. Microsoft claims this new chip offers three times the power efficiency and four times the performance of previous hardware solutions.

Rani Borkar, Vice President of Corporate Azure Hardware Systems and Infrastructure, said that the goal is to enhance every layer of infrastructure to meet the fast-paced processing needs driven by AI advancements.

With these innovations, Microsoft aims to lessen its dependence on chips from Intel and Nvidia, which have historically dominated the data center hardware landscape.

New Cooling Solutions for AI Systems
Alongside the new chips, Microsoft introduced a cutting-edge cooling system that utilizes liquid to regulate server temperatures. This system is specifically designed to support the high demands of AI, ensuring effective and efficient cooling for large-scale AI operations.

These latest innovations highlight Microsoft's commitment to leading advancements in data center technology, addressing the challenges of performance and security in an AI-driven era.