Meta Signs Deal to Rent Google's TPU Chips for AI Development
Meta is renting Google's tensor processing units and may start buying them outright by 2027.
In a move that would've seemed unthinkable a few years ago, Meta has inked a multiyear deal to rent Google's custom AI chips. The arrangement gives Meta access to Google's tensor processing units (TPUs) to build new AI models, according to The Information.
But renting apparently isn't enough. Meta has also been in discussions to outright purchase TPUs for its own data centers, with a potential timeline as early as 2027.
The deal is a notable shift in the AI chip landscape. Meta has historically leaned heavily on Nvidia GPUs for its AI infrastructure. Tapping Google's silicon suggests Meta is diversifying its chip supply chain — and that Google sees a lucrative opportunity selling hardware to a direct competitor.
For Google, it's a validation of its TPU program. For Meta, it's another bet that more compute equals better AI.