Google, Blackstone plan AI cloud venture with $5 billion backing: WSJ

Alphabet’s Google and Blackstone plans to launch an artificial-intelligence cloud company using Google’s specialised chips, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing sources.

Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager, is expected to contribute $5 billion ‌in equity ⁠and hold ⁠a majority stake in the unnamed U.S. venture, with a deal expected to be announced in a few hours, the report said.

Google will supply hardware, including its specialized chips known as Tensor Processing Units, or TPUs, as well as ⁠software and ‌services to the venture, the WSJ reported.