AMD is one of the best performing chip stocks of 2026, following a decade-long comeback in data center chips. Now, it’s making its biggest competitive move against Nvidia yet. AMD’s first rack-scale system for AI, Helios, is shipping later this year – and it’s the world’s first competitor to Nvidia’s Grace Blackwell and Vera Rubin systems. Now, Microsoft has signed up to use Helios in its data centers, joining other customers Meta, OpenAI and Oracle. But with a price tag of at least $5 million, analysts estimate Helios will cost at least $1 million more than Nvidia Vera Rubin. CNBC got an exclusive first look inside the 7,000 pound behemoth, and sat down with AMD data center and AI leads to ask how its first-generation AI system can compete with Nvidia – and what sets it apart.

Credits:
Produced and Shot by
Katie Tarasov
Edited by
Evan Lee Miller
Camera by
Andrew Evers
Senior Director of Video
Jeniece Pettitt
Animation
Jason Reginato, Emily Park, Alisa Stern
Additional Camera
Jordan Smith
Additional Footage
AMD, Nvidia, Getty Images

Chapters:
2:28 Microsoft, Meta, OpenAI, Oracle
5:16 Proving grounds
8:30 Catching up to Nvidia
12:38 Cost, power, constraints

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Helios Is AMD’s First AI System To Rival Nvidia Vera Rubin — We Got An Exclusive, First Look