Tech
Neoclouds: Meeting demand for AI acceleration | Computer Weekly
ChatGPT, launched in 2022, began making a significant impact on the market by late 2023, according to Synergy Research Group. The company’s chief analyst, John Dinsdale, points out that cloud market leaders have experienced accelerated revenue growth over time. Additionally, the emergence of numerous neocloud companies (see box: What is a neocloud?) has further strengthened the already positive momentum in the market.
This sentiment is reflected in the Rethinking AI sovereignty whitepaper, published to coincide with the World Economic Forum, which notes that surging demand for compute is spawning new AI infrastructure development models, such as neocloud providers, national cloud providers and industry-specific artificial intelligence (AI) clouds. While hyperscalers offer global reach and full-service cloud ecosystems, neoclouds provide specialised, high-performance compute infrastructure tailored to AI training and deployment.
This surge in demand for AI acceleration has seen a surprising benefactor. According to Tiger Research, cryptocurrency mining firms, seeking to reduce their exposure to bitcoin’s volatile pricing, are redirecting their graphics processing unit (GPU) farms toward AI acceleration applications.
One example is the Australian bitcoin mining company, Iris Energy. In 2021/2022, Neel Khokhani, a Dubai-based fund manager, acquired shares in the small Australian datacentre for $1 per share. By assisting the company in leveraging its substantial physical assets to transition into an AI infrastructure provider, the share price surged to $63 by 2026. This transformation led to a $60m increase in the company’s valuation, which is now operating under the name Iren.
More choice
Before the emergence of neoclouds a few years ago, if an organisation wanted to work with AI, it had no choice but to go to a hyperscaler like Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Google. While the hyperscalers offer AI infrastructure as part of their vast public cloud services portfolio, Roy Illsley, chief analyst at Omdia, says the hyperscalers tend to be expensive and, as he recalls, a few years ago, there was very little choice other than Google’s AI offerings.
Analyst firm Gartner estimates that by 2030, neocloud providers will capture around 20% of the $267bn AI cloud market. Neoclouds are purpose-built cloud providers designed for GPU-intensive AI workloads. They are not a replacement for hyperscalers, but a structural correction to how AI infrastructure is built, bought and consumed. Their rise signals a deeper shift in the cloud market: AI workloads are forcing infrastructure to unbundle again.
In a recent Computer Weekly article, Mike Dorosh, a senior director analyst at Gartner, said IT buyers face three interrelated constraints, which influence their AI infrastructure decisions. First, there is what Dorosh calls cost opacity, which he says is rising as GPU pricing becomes increasingly bundled and variable, often inflated by overprovisioning and long reservation commitments that assume steady-state usage. Then there are supply bottlenecks, which he says constrain access to advanced AI accelerators. This results in long lead times, regional shortages and limited visibility into future availability. For Dorosh, the third area of concern for IT buyers is performance trade-offs, where virtualisation layers and shared tenancy reduce predictability for latency-sensitive training and inference workloads.
According to Dorosh, these pressures are no longer marginal. They create a market opening that neoclouds are designed to fill.
One example of a neocloud provider is CoreWeave, which the authors of the Rethinking AI sovereignty report say is undergoing a capacity expansion, having secured funding of $25bn since 2024. AI infrastructure buildout is also expanding through national cloud providers such as Humain (Saudi Arabia), G42 (United Arab Emirates), Outscale (France) and StackIT (Germany).
Another neocloud company that has been making headlines is Nscale, which has committed to delivering approximately 12,600 Nvidia GB300 GPUs at the Start Campus datacentre in Sines, Portugal, in the first quarter of 2026. This multi-year agreement sees Nscale offering Nvidia AI infrastructure services to Microsoft while providing European customers with sovereign AI within the European Union.
This deal builds on plans announced by Nscale and Microsoft in September 2025 to deliver the UK’s largest Nvidia AI supercomputer at Nscale’s Loughton AI Campus. The 50MW facility, scalable to 90MW, is expected to house approximately 23,000 Nvidia GB300 GPUs from the first quarter of 2027 to power Microsoft Azure services.
Gartner’s Neoclouds: The next offering arrow in the service provider quiver report notes that the consumption-based economics and transparent pricing offered by neocloud providers address the overprovisioning and hidden costs often associated with the offerings from hyperscalers. In fact, Gartner reports that by offering transparent, usage-based billing, IT buyers can expect to see cost savings of 60-70% on GPU instances compared with hyperscalers.
However, Dorosh says the more significant change is architectural rather than financial. Neoclouds encourage organisations to make explicit decisions about AI workload placement. Training, fine-tuning, inference, simulation and agent execution each have distinct performance, cost and locality requirements. Treating them as interchangeable cloud workloads is increasingly inefficient and often unnecessarily expensive.
As a result, AI infrastructure strategies are becoming inherently hybrid and multicloud by design – not as a by-product of supplier sprawl, but as a deliberate response to workload reality. The cloud market is fragmenting along functional lines, and neoclouds occupy a clear and growing role within that landscape.
“Neoclouds started as GPU as a service. If you needed GPUs, these companies bought or leased GPUs from Nvidia, and then they would slice them and sell them off to people in smaller groups and bundles,” says Omdia’s Illsley.
However, over time, neocloud providers have added software stacks and developed other services to meet the demand of IT buyers who need GPU power and the software stack required for AI training or AI inferencing.
Getting started on deploying AI workloads for inference or training is arguably not as simple as the one-click option offered on something like the AWS Marketplace, Illsley says the neocloud providers are maturing to a point where they have partnered with AI software providers and can therefore offer a full set of services to meet the requirements of IT buyers who need AI compute capacity. “They are saying that they have GPUs and now provide access through partnerships to the software to run AI workloads,” he says.
As an example, CoreWeave and Nvidia recently expanded their relationship to accelerate CoreWeave’s build-out of more than 5GW of AI factory capacity by 2030. Along with the hardware commitment, according to a market insight report from Macquarie Group, the agreement shows that CoreWeave is also working with Nvidia to incorporate its AI-native software within Nvidia’s reference architectures for Nvidia’s enterprise clients and cloud partners.
One neocloud benefit identified by Gartner is access for IT buyers to specialised hardware, since neoclouds tend to prioritise cutting-edge GPUs, often securing first-to-market access through strategic partnerships. They also cater to bare-metal performance and optimised networking, since neoclouds are able to eliminate the layers of server virtualisation needed in multi-tenanted hyperscaler installations. Instead, they are able to offer direct hardware access, which Gartner says reduces latency and makes it possible to deploy high-bandwidth connectivity such as NVLink and InfiniBand for optimal GPU-to-GPU communication.
Choosing between a neocloud and a hyperscaler
While they may have begun as GPU-as-a-service type offerings, the evolution of neoclouds means there is now less of a gap between their AI services and the full-blown AI platform offerings from the hyperscalers.
Clearly, hyperscalers will eventually offer more attractive pricing to compete with neoclouds, but as Gartner senior director analyst Rene Buest points out, neocloud providers are trying to deliver more predictable pricing.
“Hyperscalers are very transparent in terms of their pricing models, so pay as you go, but at the end of the month, you don’t really know what you will pay,” he says. In other words, when using hyperscaler IT infrastructure, the monthly cost of compute resources consumed cannot be determined in advance.
IT leaders can benefit, at least in Buest’s view, from 70% cost savings by choosing a neocloud over a hyperscaler. “They also provide instant direct access to advanced GPUs, which tend to outpace the hyperscalers in speed and transparency,” he says.
Buest says neoclouds are very niche, “providing purpose-built infrastructure for AI workloads”. This not only meets customer demand today, but also suggests that neoclouds will be viable in the foreseeable future.
Khokhani’s successful investment in the former bitcoin miner Iris Energy, now known as Iren, suggests that the long-term AI capacity contracts secured by neocloud providers indicate a stable and robust business model.
He says: “People still think of Iren through a bitcoin-mining lens, but that misses what the business has become. What attracted me was the transition to long-dated, contracted datacentre infrastructure. When you have multi-year take-or-pay style contracts with an investment-grade counterparty like Microsoft, the economic risk starts to resemble infrastructure credit rather than crypto volatility.”
Great iPad Accessories
iPad accessories are endless. Below, we’ve highlighted some of our favorites to round out your tablet experience, and you can find more in our Best iPad Accessories guide.
Zugu Case for $50+: This is our favorite folio case for the iPad for multiple reasons. It’s not only durable (complete with a rigid bumper), but it also has a magnetized cover that stays shut and a flap that allows you to position the screen at eight different angles. The case is magnetic, allowing you to stick it on the fridge securely. It’s also reasonably priced, comes in an array of colors, and has a spot for your Apple Pencil.
Satechi M1 Wireless Mouse for $30: We’re already big fans of Satechi’s accessories at WIRED, and this mouse didn’t disappoint. It has a comfortable ergonomic design, a sleek aluminum finish, and smooth scrolling. It has great battery life too—with a built-in lithium-ion battery, I’ve been using it for the past four months and have yet to charge it.
Mageasy CoverBuddy Case (iPad Pro) for $70: This case allows you to magnetically connect it to Apple’s Magic Keyboard case without having to take off the case each time. It feels durable and doesn’t add too much bulk to the iPad. There’s also a slot for the Apple Pencil Pro or the USB-C version. The company also offers the CoverBuddy Lite for the iPad Air (M2).
-SOURCE-Brenda-Stolyar.jpg)
Photograph: Brenda Stolyar
Logitech Combo Touch (10th-Gen) for $260: The Combo Touch (8/10, WIRED Recommends) comes with a built-in keyboard, trackpad, and kickstand, making it ideal for getting work done on your iPad. It’s also detachable, so you can easily remove the keyboard when you don’t need it. It connects via Apple’s Smart Connector, meaning you never need to tinker with Bluetooth or bother charging it. It’s also available for the iPad Pro (M4) and M5 (although it does add a bit of weight to such a thin tablet) and the iPad Air (M2).
Casetify Impact Screen Protector for $56: If you’re worried about damaging your iPad screen, I recommend this protector from Casetify. It’s super thin, has excellent touch sensitivity, and is mostly fingerprint-resistant (I’ve wiped some smudges here and there). It’s painless to apply—the company supplies a microfiber cloth, a de-dusting sticker, and wet and dry wipes.
Paperlike Charcoal Folio Case for $65: Paperlike is known for its screen protector, but the company also offers a great case. It’s designed to feel like a sketchbook, complete with a polyester fabric cover that feels lightweight and high-quality. You can also prop your iPad up at two different levels. It doesn’t come with an Apple Pencil slot, but there is a large flap closure that keeps it from falling out. I tested it with the iPad Air, but it’s also available for the iPad Pro (both sizes).
Twelve South StayGo Mini USB-C Hub for $60: Ports are limited regardless of the iPad model. This hub from Twelve South has an 85-watt USB-C port with passthrough charging, a USB-A port, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack. If you have trouble fitting it on an iPad with a case, the included socket-USB-C-to-plug-USB-C cable will fix this.
Apple Magic Trackpad (USB-C) for $120: For a spacious trackpad, the Magic Trackpad 2 is a great choice. Instead of physical buttons, it has Force Touch sensors where you can feel different levels of pressure on the pad. With support for various iPadOS gestures, you won’t have to touch the screen as much. It automatically pairs with your iPad via Bluetooth and recharges with the Lightning port.
Logitech K380 Bluetooth Keyboard for $40: If you prefer an external keyboard, it’s hard to go wrong with the Logitech K380. It’s lightweight and portable and can be connected to up to three devices via Bluetooth (with dedicated buttons to switch between them). The keyboard is powered by AAA batteries, which lasted us around four months, so you don’t have to worry about carrying a charger around.
Twelve South HoverBar Duo 2.0 for $80: The HoverBar serves two purposes. You can mount it to the side of your bed, kitchen counter, or shelf (to view content comfortably and hands-free), or you can use the included stand at your desk. With the 2nd-gen version, you can now remove the arm from the clamp and attach it directly to the stand, making it easier to swap between both modes.
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NASA has once again postponed the launch of Artemis II, the crewed lunar flyby mission, setting a new launch window for April. Although March 6 had been tentatively planned as the launch date, the US space agency revealed that a problem with the rocket has caused further delay.
According to NASA administrator Jared Isaacman, the failure was due to an interruption in the helium flow in the interim cryogenic propulsion stage of the Space Launch System (SLS). The helium flow is essential for purging the engines and pressurizing the fuel tanks. This system had functioned correctly in the two dress rehearsals conducted this month, but the failure occurred during a routine operation.
Due to the nature of the problem, NASA engineers will have to fix it from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), so there’s no way to proceed with the March launch window. The rocket is on its way back to the hangar.
“I understand people are disappointed by this development,” the official stated on his X account. “That disappointment is felt most by the team at NASA, who have been working tirelessly to prepare for this great endeavor. During the 1960s, when NASA achieved what most thought was impossible, and what has never been repeated since, there were many setbacks.”
Will Artemis II be able to embark on its mission in April? NASA reported that rapid preparations have allowed it to potentially preserve the April launch window in the event of a reversal. It all depends on what the data, the repair efforts, and how the schedule comes together in the coming days.
Artemis II: The Setbacks
The mission had its first launch window between February 6 and 11. However, during the wet dress rehearsal (WDR), which is a full rehearsal with fuel, the team detected small hydrogen leaks during refueling and some minor technical glitches. After analyzing the situation, NASA concluded that the risk was considerable and could endanger the lives of the astronauts, so it decided to postpone the launch.
A second dress rehearsal, conducted on February 19, was successful. In a statement, the space agency explained that it loaded 700,000 gallons of liquid propellant with no leaks. “During the test, teams closely monitored liquid hydrogen fueling operations, which proved challenging during previous tests. Hydrogen gas concentrations remained under allowable limits, giving engineers confidence in new seals installed in an interface used to route fuel to the rocket,” NASA said.
At a subsequent press conference, mission representatives confirmed to the media that the new tentative liftoff date would be March 6. However, on February 20, the team failed to get helium to flow through the vehicle, a failure that also occurred during testing of the Artemis I mission. Isaacman noted that the cause could be due to a faulty filter, valve or connector plate.
“There are many differences between the 1960s and today, and expectations should rightfully be high after the time and expense invested in this program,” Isaacman said in his post. “I will say again, the President created Artemis as a program that will far surpass what America achieved during Apollo. We will return in the years ahead, we will build a Moon base, and undertake what should be continuous missions to and from the lunar environment.”
When it eventually launches, the Orion capsule will travel farther than any other manned spacecraft during its 10-day mission, surpassing on the sixth day the record of 400,171 kilometers set by Apollo 13. The return will conclude with Orion’s landing in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California.
Although there will be no lunar landing—that feat will fall to the Artemis III mission—the second launch is of crucial importance. Its success will demonstrate that NASA has the technical capabilities to return to the moon and begin a new phase of space exploration.
This story originally appeared in WIRED en Español and has been translated from Spanish.
If you’re the kind of person who gets nervous or squeamish at the doctor’s office, you might find that collecting your own samples doesn’t freak you out as much as someone in a white coat doing it.
Depending on where you live and your transportation situation, at-home STD tests might be more accessible than visiting a clinic or making a doctor’s appointment. And you can pay for them out of pocket, which might be a better option based on your health insurance.
Finally, and unfortunately, sexually transmitted infections have a stigma attached to them. You shouldn’t feel ashamed of checking up on your sexual health—far from it, in fact—but at-home tests might be a better option if you’re concerned about what others may think.
The Cons of At-Home STI Tests
At-home STI tests are expensive. Depending on your specific health care situation, they might be more affordable, and many of them are FSA- and HSA-eligible or may be covered by insurance. But if you live in an area where there’s free testing through your city or state health departments, or a third-party clinic like Planned Parenthood, those options are likely going to be much cheaper than testing at home.
There’s also the risk of you collecting your samples incorrectly, which can lead to false negatives. Depending on the test you choose, if you do get positive results for a sexually transmitted infection, you might still end up having to go visit a doctor in person to get it treated. While many tests are reputable, it’s still important to ensure that the lab analyzing your results is well-regulated (and that the test itself comes from a reputable company). “It’s important to follow the kit instructions exactly and collect the sample properly while avoiding contamination. You should also follow the warnings and avoid factors that can interfere with results, including incorrect kit storage or use of certain products in the last 48 hours,” says Dr. Gary Schoolnik, Chief Medical Officer at Visby Medical.
Your individual health and timing can impact the accuracy of at-home tests, too. For example, if you’re on your period or have recently used antibiotics, those variables might affect the quality of the samples you can collect. A health care provider can take these things into account and adjust your testing protocol accordingly.
If the situation is urgent—for example, if you’re experiencing physical symptoms that raised concerns, or you’re immunocompromised, or you’re pregnant, or you know you were exposed to an STI—it’s important to actually visit a health care provider rather than trying to treat your condition at home. “I still recommend people who’re having symptoms or know they’ve been with someone that has an STI to seek professional sexual health care to be completely sure, as a false result from a do-it-at-home-kit can make you think you’re okay and therefore dismiss or overlook symptoms,” says Roos.
If privacy is a concern, it might actually be more beneficial for you to go to a routine doctor’s appointment rather than having the packaging for an STD test in the trash. And if you think you might test positive for something, it might be beneficial for you to hear that news from a health care provider rather than finding out while opening the mail in your kitchen. It’s something that’s important to think through before you decide to go with testing at home.
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