Wasabi Technologies, a hot cloud storage provider, has announced a significant expansion into artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure with the introduction of Wasabi Fire, a new high-performance storage class designed for AI workloads, set to be available in early 2026. This expansion includes the opening of its 16th global storage region in San Jose, California, established through a partnership with IBM Cloud.
Wasabi Fire is an NVMe, SSD-based storage solution purpose-built for compute-intensive AI and machine learning (ML) training, real-time inference, high-frequency data logging, and media pipelines. It aims to offer hyperscale-level performance and durability at a competitive price of $19.99 per terabyte per month, with no additional egress or hidden charges. The company states this offering is designed to address the rising cost of storage in AI development, enabling organizations to maximize GPU utilization and enhance the return on their AI investments.
David Friend, co-founder and CEO of Wasabi Technologies, highlighted the importance of object storage as the foundation for AI. He stated, “With Wasabi Fire, we’re delivering NVMe performance at disruptive prices, allowing organizations to cost-effectively store the critical data needed to train AI.”
The new San Jose region, now operational, is Wasabi’s 16th global data center and is located in a key AI hub. This region is established through a partnership with IBM Cloud, with Wasabi Fire specifically co-located with IBM infrastructure. This setup is intended to provide ultra-high-speed storage for complex workloads, aiming to reduce latency and bottlenecks in AI training and inference processes.
Alan Peacock, General Manager of IBM Cloud, commented on the collaboration, stating, “We’re excited for Wasabi to expand into Silicon Valley with the IBM Cloud San Jose data center. Wasabi Fire on the IBM Cloud is designed to give clients the benefits of IBM’s secured enterprise-grade infrastructure.”
The expansion reflects a growing demand for scalable and cost-efficient cloud storage in the AI era. Wasabi currently manages over three exabytes of data. Dave McCarthy, research vice president at IDC, noted, “Wasabi’s momentum reflects a clear demand for simple, predictable cloud storage. By adding a new storage class and expanding into Silicon Valley, Wasabi positions itself as a storage provider aligned to the full lifecycle of AI development while maintaining the simplicity that has defined its growth to date.”
Wasabi Technologies aims to provide affordable, predictable, and secure cloud storage, allowing companies to utilize their data without unpredictable fees or vendor lock-in.
