2026-04-05 21:02 UTC
@mirth @alienghic @cwebber
As for the custom chips, I'm not sure how much more customized you can make a chip for ML models than what NVIDIA is cranking out, but at the very least here's what's going on with Microsoft's attempts to get Azure to work on smaller hardware. This is a really sobering read from a former MS system engineer.
Certainly, the capability of ARM chips to really change cloud computing if someone can get the ultra-efficient ones to scale up shouldn't be overlooked. And someone else who isn't Microsoft will probably figure it out (although AWS in particular is also staggering under its immense technical debt right now).
But there is just one titanic mess after another under the hoods of the major tech firms burning hundreds of billions of VC dollars right now.
https://isolveproblems.substack.com/p/how-microsoft-vaporized-a-trillion
Replies (1)
-
@mirth@mastodon.sdf.org 2026-04-06 07:48
@MichaelTBacon @alienghic @cwebber I read the Ed Zitron piece with some interest but it's weakly sourced and light on actual analysis (though it has a lot of links). I think he is right that AI companies are spending eye watering amounts of cash but misunderstands why or what will likely happen when the game of musical chairs stops. Massive layoffs, other financial carnage, yes, but the insiders will still be rich and maintain control of the post-restructuring profits. Corrupt.