Meta Leases Tens of Millions of AWS Graviton CPU Cores for AI in Multibillion-Dollar Deal
Meta Platforms and Amazon have announced a multibillion-dollar, multiyear agreement in which Meta will lease tens of millions of AWS Graviton CPU cores to power its artificial intelligence operations. The deal, disclosed Friday by Amazon, marks a significant shift in how major technology companies are approaching AI infrastructure, moving beyond the graphics processing units that have dominated the industry for years.
The arrangement gives Meta access to Amazon's latest-generation Graviton5 processors, which are built on a 3-nanometer process using ARM architecture. According to an Amazon Web Services executive, the agreement spans three to five years and will position Meta among the top five largest Graviton customers of AWS. Meta will deploy hundreds of thousands of individual Graviton chips, collectively representing tens of millions of processor cores, with most deployed within the United States.
Unlike GPUs—the specialized chips that have powered most AI model training—CPUs handle general computing tasks and offer distinct advantages for certain workloads. AWS vice president Nafea Bshara highlighted that Graviton chips deliver superior cost-performance ratios compared to equivalent computing options while consuming approximately 60% less energy than similar products. This efficiency gain underscores why major AI companies are diversifying their chip procurement strategies beyond traditional GPU suppliers.
The Meta-Amazon deal exemplifies the intensifying competition among technology giants to secure sufficient processing power as AI adoption accelerates across the industry. Big Tech companies are simultaneously investing heavily in custom chips and forming strategic partnerships to ensure they have adequate capacity for their AI ambitions. The arrangement also demonstrates Amazon's growing confidence in its homegrown chip designs as a viable alternative to external suppliers, allowing the cloud provider to showcase Graviton technology to a marquee customer and validate its investment in semiconductor development.