It sounds like a contradiction, but it’s not a suggestion that AI itself is doing the damage. Rather, it’s the exponentially growing demand for compute – the raw infrastructure that powers AI – and the lack of equitable access to that essential resource. In other words: no compute means no innovation for far too many organizations, large and small. That has to change.

The system for buying compute doesn’t compute. Neither does the lack of market transparency, vendor lock-in, juggling multiple vendors, unused capacity, and heterogeneity. The reality is that most compute buyers are flying blind. There’s no real market price – access to the same GPU service can range from $1.58-$8.50 per hour. When a buyer is able to secure access, there’s no way of knowing whether or not it’s a good deal, or if the technology will even work. 

This presentation will make the case for the commoditization of raw computing power, which could be transformative for fair and equal access. The innate properties of compute naturally lend themselves to standardization and liquid markets: Compute exhibits uniformity as AI’s foundational infrastructure, much like electricity in power transmission. It represents an essential raw material for model development, commanding a massive market with capital expenditures in the trillions. Compute also demonstrates minimal differentiation in core capabilities across providers.

That’s why there’s a need for neutrality and a system that injects transparency and liquidity into the process. Simeon will make the case for a market that lets buyers access compute when they need it, while allowing providers to monetize unused capacity efficiently.