General Compute, an AI inference cloud startup, has secured a $400 million loan from Upper90, marking the first deal to use inference-specific chips as collateral.This move reflects growing market interest in cost-effective AI infrastructure, as companies seek alternatives to expensive GPU-based systems.

Founded by Finn Puklowski, General Compute leverages SambaNova's SN50 chips, which offer 16x faster inference than traditional GPU clouds while being more energy-efficient.Upper90's CEO Billy Libby highlights the shift from GPU financing to inference chips, citing reduced risks and increased market maturity.

The deal underscores broader industry trends toward open-source models and chip alternatives to Nvidia, with companies like Groq and Cerebras gaining traction.This financing signals a fragmentation of Nvidia's dominance in AI infrastructure, offering new options for cost-efficient computation.