IBM and Together AI have entered a $240 million multi-year agreement to build a large-scale AI inference cluster on IBM Cloud using Nvidia HGX B300 systems with Blackwell processors. The cluster will support open-source models including DeepSeek, MiniMax, and Kimi. The announcement occurred on Tuesday, with Together AI valued at $8.3 billion as of July.
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“IBM, Together AI ink $240 million deal for Nvidia-powered AI inference cluster”
Read at CNA →“Nvidia’s $500B Bet To Make AI Compute Wall Street’s Next Asset Class - Forbes”
Read at Forbes →The deal channels resources toward lower-cost open models that could counter proprietary AI concentration, though it still reinforces Nvidia and IBM market power with limited scrutiny of environmental or labor effects.
“Open-source access versus corporate enclosure and externalities”
Private collaboration between IBM and Together AI advances U.S. AI leadership via market-driven, cost-efficient infrastructure without government intervention.
“Voluntary enterprise deals and decentralized innovation”
The agreement exemplifies voluntary capital allocation that expands access to compute through open models and reduces dependence on closed platforms.
“Price signals, user autonomy, and absence of state direction”
All perspectives overlook Chinese model origins, Nvidia's hardware chokehold, and unexamined energy or security externalities while overstating the deal's structural significance.
“Supplier concentration and omitted geopolitical or infrastructure risks”
Ratings by MBFC