CoreWeave and IBM Join Forces to Launch Next-Gen AI Supercomputer Powered by NVIDIA

CoreWeave has announced plans to deliver one of the first AI supercomputers powered by NVIDIA GB200 Grace Blackwell Superchips to IBM. Featuring NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 systems and Quantum-2 InfiniBand networking, the advanced supercomputer will play a pivotal role in training IBM’s next-generation Granite models. These open-source, enterprise-ready AI models are designed to achieve cutting-edge performance while prioritizing safety, speed, and cost-efficiency for diverse enterprise applications. CoreWeave highlighted the collaboration as a groundbreaking opportunity to combine its industry-leading AI cloud expertise with IBM’s legacy of innovation to “push the boundaries of artificial intelligence.”

CoreWeave’s cloud platform is purpose-built for unmatched performance, reliability, and security, making it a trusted solution for the most complex AI infrastructures. Its proprietary software and cloud services are already relied upon by leading AI labs and enterprises worldwide. As part of this initiative, the supercomputer will use IBM’s Storage Scale System, integrated with NVMe flash technology, to deliver high-performance storage optimized for AI, data analytics, and other demanding workloads. Additionally, CoreWeave customers will gain access to IBM’s Storage platform through dedicated environments within its AI cloud ecosystem.

This collaboration aims to redefine enterprise AI capabilities. IBM noted that CoreWeave’s advanced platform will augment its ability to develop highly efficient and high-performing models tailored for enterprise AI applications. The integration of IBM Storage further unlocks new possibilities by enhancing CoreWeave’s suite of AI tools, while also leveraging the supercomputer to advance open technologies like Kubernetes, powering hybrid cloud AI computing. Both companies see this partnership as a transformative step in delivering innovative and scalable AI solutions to the enterprise market.

What this means for SAPinsiders

AI-Driven Cloud Solutions Are Redefining Enterprise Applications: The partnership between CoreWeave and IBM showcases how AI-enabled cloud platforms are revolutionizing enterprise models like IBM’s Granite series. These AI models deliver state-of-the-art performance while prioritizing safety, speed, and cost efficiency. For the SAP community, this highlights the immense potential of integrating AI into enterprise software like SAP S/4HANA to enhance decision-making, enable predictive analytics, and drive process automation. Currently, accessing AI capabilities within SAP S/4HANA comes with limitations. There are only two pathways: through a RISE with SAP contract paired with Joule, or by connecting data to a custom application built on SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) and leveraging SAP AI Core or SAP AI Launchpad. This complexity makes accessing Granite models directly a challenge. This is Precisely why SAP emphasizes embedding Business AI directly into its solutions. By integrating AI natively, SAP enables seamless access to data without additional steps. In contrast, external AI systems require cumbersome processes to transfer data before insights can be generated, making SAP’s approach a game-changer for efficiency and usability.

Impact on End Users:

• Enhanced Efficiency: AI-driven cloud solutions can automate repetitive tasks, reduce errors, and speed up critical processes, leading to more efficient workflows.
• Personalized Experiences: With AI models like Granite, enterprises can tailor user experiences in SAP systems, offering predictive insights, smarter recommendations, and real-time data analysis.
• Cost Savings: By leveraging scalable and efficient AI solutions, businesses can optimize operational costs, ensuring more accessible services for end users.

Utilize Advanced Storage and Networking for Data-Intensive Workloads: CoreWeave’s deployment of IBM’s Storage Scale System, combined with NVMe flash technology and NVIDIA Quantum-2 InfiniBand networking, underscores the importance of robust infrastructure for handling AI and analytics workloads. For SAP users, adopting high-performance storage solutions can enhance the performance of data-intensive applications like SAP HANA and SAP Analytics Cloud.

Impact on End Users:

• Faster Response Times: Improved storage and networking infrastructure will enable faster data retrieval and analysis, reducing latency for end users accessing SAP systems.
• Improved Reliability: High-performance infrastructure ensures seamless system availability and reduces downtime, providing users with consistent and reliable access to critical business data.
• Scalability: Businesses can expand their SAP applications to handle growing workloads without compromising performance, benefiting users with uninterrupted services during periods of growth.

Leveraging Open Technologies to Drive Innovation: The collaboration’s emphasis on open technologies, such as Kubernetes, to power hybrid cloud AI computing offers a scalable and flexible model for the SAP ecosystem. Kubernetes can be leveraged to manage containerized workloads and applications, making it easier to deploy, scale, and manage SAP services in a hybrid or multi-cloud environment.

Impact on End Users:

• Greater Flexibility: Open technologies enable businesses to adopt hybrid cloud strategies, allowing end users to access SAP applications and data seamlessly across different environments.
• Continuous Innovation: Kubernetes-driven systems promote faster iteration and deployment of new features, ensuring end users benefit from the latest advancements in AI and enterprise software.
• Improved Cost Management: Open-source tools reduce dependency on proprietary solutions, leading to lower operational costs, which can translate into more affordable solutions for end users.