Microsoft Azure to deploy AMD Helios AI systems and new EPYC Venice instances in expanded deal

AMD said Microsoft Azure will deploy its new Helios rack-scale AI systems, along with new EPYC “Venice” CPU-based instances and Pensando networking gear, as part of an expanded partnership focused on AI infrastructure. The companies said Helios will be used for large-scale AI inference in Azure and for Microsoft’s own AI services and customers, with shipments expected to begin in the second half of 2026. The deal matters because it gives Microsoft another major option for powering AI workloads while helping AMD push deeper into the cloud market.