Microsoft has hired Mike Filippo, a former Apple semiconductor expert with experience at Arm and Intel, to work on developing its own Azure server chips. This move is seen as a strategic step to enhance Microsoft’s data centers and compete with AWS and Google Cloud. Microsoft is likely aiming to gain efficiencies by controlling the chip-making process, following the success Apple has had with its A and M series chips. This move could also pose a challenge to longtime partners Intel and AMD, who have provided chips for Azure servers. AWS and Google Cloud have been investing in custom chips, and Microsoft seems to be following suit to improve Azure’s performance and competitiveness.
