Cerebras Systems: AI Hardware Vendor Review (2025)
Company Background
Founded in 2016 by Andrew Feldman, Cerebras Systems is a privately held American company headquartered in Los Altos, California. The company is known for its groundbreaking Wafer-Scale Engine (WSE), the largest computer chip ever built. Cerebras Systems focuses on developing and deploying AI hardware and software solutions for large-scale AI workloads, particularly in the areas of large language models (LLMs) and scientific computing. Their innovative approach to chip design and system architecture has garnered significant attention within the AI industry.
Enterprise AI Offerings
Cerebras Systems offers a comprehensive suite of products and services designed to meet the diverse needs of enterprise AI deployments. These offerings are built upon the foundation of the Wafer-Scale Engine (WSE), a groundbreaking technology that redefines AI hardware.
Wafer-Scale Engine (WSE)
At the heart of Cerebras Systems' technology is the WSE, the largest computer chip ever built . Unlike traditional chips that are limited in size, the WSE spans an entire silicon wafer, providing unprecedented processing power and efficiency for AI workloads . This unique design eliminates the need for complex interconnects between multiple smaller chips, which reduces latency and improves overall performance . The WSE is specifically optimized for AI tasks, enabling faster training times and simplified model development compared to traditional GPU-based solutions . The latest iteration, the WSE-3, boasts an impressive 4 trillion transistors and 900,000 AI-optimized cores, delivering 125 petaflops of AI performance.
CS-3 System
The CS-3 system is Cerebras' flagship AI supercomputer, powered by the WSE-3 processor. It is designed to accelerate generative AI workloads with unmatched speed and efficiency, enabling enterprises to train and deploy large language models (LLMs) and other AI models at scale. The CS-3 system is built to handle the demanding computational requirements of modern AI applications, providing enterprises with the infrastructure they need to push the boundaries of AI innovation.
Cerebras Inference
Launched in August 2024, Cerebras Inference is a high-speed AI inference service that delivers speeds up to 20 times faster than NVIDIA's A100 GPUs at a fraction of the cost . It is powered by the CS-3 system and the WSE-3 processor, enabling near-instant answer generation and transforming the way enterprises access and utilize AI models . Cerebras is dedicated to providing fast, accurate, and reliable information to everyone with real-time accessible search, demonstrating their commitment to both innovation and user satisfaction.
Cerebras AI Model Studio
The Cerebras AI Model Studio is a dedicated platform for training and fine-tuning large language models on dedicated clusters . It offers a simple pay-by-the-model computing service, providing deterministic performance and eliminating the need for complex distributed computing . This platform simplifies the process of developing and deploying custom LLMs, enabling enterprises to tailor AI solutions to their specific needs.
Cerebras DocChat
Cerebras DocChat is a pre-trained model designed for question answering on documents . It leverages the power of the WSE and Cerebras Inference to deliver fast and accurate responses to questions posed against various types of documents.
Target Enterprise Sectors
Cerebras Systems' AI solutions are designed to cater to a wide range of enterprise sectors with significant AI needs. These sectors include:
Healthcare and Pharma
Cerebras has partnered with leading healthcare institutions like the Mayo Clinic to develop AI models for improving diagnostics and treatment . The company's technology is also being used by pharmaceutical companies like GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca to accelerate drug discovery and genomics research .
Financial Services
Cerebras' AI solutions are being adopted by financial institutions for applications such as fraud detection, risk management, and algorithmic trading . Companies like AlphaSense are leveraging Cerebras Inference to enhance their AI-powered market intelligence platforms and deliver faster insights . Cerebras has also partnered with Nasdaq, hinting at potential innovations in high-frequency trading and financial technology .
High-Performance Computing (HPC)
Cerebras systems are being deployed in research institutions and national laboratories for complex scientific computing tasks, including COVID-19 research, cancer tumor research, and climate change mitigation efforts .
Government
Cerebras is working with government agencies to provide AI solutions for national security, data analysis, and other critical applications .
Energy
Cerebras technology is being used in the energy sector for applications such as carbon capture simulations and optimizing energy production .
Asia-Pacific Region
Cerebras has partnered with Tokyo Electron Devices (TED) to expand high-performance AI capabilities in Asia, demonstrating its commitment to serving a global market .
Cerebras Systems recognizes that different sectors have unique requirements for AI deployments. The company offers flexible deployment options, including cloud, on-premise, and hybrid solutions, to cater to these diverse needs . This ensures that enterprises can access and utilize Cerebras' AI capabilities in a way that aligns with their specific infrastructure and operational preferences.
Use Cases
Cerebras Systems' private AI solutions are being applied to a variety of enterprise use cases, showcasing their versatility and effectiveness in addressing real-world challenges. Some notable examples include:
Accelerating Drug Discovery
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) utilizes Cerebras Inference to speed up drug discovery processes, leading to increased productivity and faster development of new therapies .
Improving Diagnostics
The Mayo Clinic is collaborating with Cerebras to develop large language models (LLMs) that enhance diagnostic accuracy by analyzing patient data and DNA .
Enhancing Market Intelligence
AlphaSense has integrated Cerebras Inference into its AI-powered market intelligence platform to deliver faster and more precise insights for financial and business professionals .
Powering AI Assistants
Mistral AI, a French AI startup, uses Cerebras to power its flagship Le Chat AI assistant, delivering instant responses to user queries .
Accelerating Research
Argonne National Laboratory and other research institutions are using Cerebras systems to accelerate research in areas such as COVID-19, cancer, and climate change .
These use cases demonstrate the ability of Cerebras Systems' solutions to accelerate AI innovation and deliver tangible benefits across various domains . By providing faster time-to-solution and unlocking new techniques and models, Cerebras empowers enterprises to push the boundaries of what's possible with AI.
Comparative Analysis
To better understand Cerebras Systems position in the enterprise AI market, we conducted a comparative analysis against key competitors: Anthropic, OpenAI, Google Cloud AI, and Databricks. The comparison focuses on the following criteria:
| Feature | Cohere | Anthropic | OpenAI | Google Cloud AI | Cerebras Systems | Databricks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data Sovereignty | Private deployments (VPC, on-premises) | Regional deployments on AWS | Data residency in Europe | Sovereign Cloud with regional controls | Data centers in North America and Europe | Databricks Geos with regional processing |
| Trust & Compliance | SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA | SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA, ISO 27001, ISO 42001 | SOC 2 Type 2, CSA STAR Level 1, GDPR, CCPA | AI Principles, AUP, various certifications | Cerebras Trust Center, SOC 2 Type 2, HIPAA | SOC 2 Type 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, PCI DSS |
| Model Flexibility | Fine-tuning, custom models | Fine-tuning, prompt engineering | Fine-tuning, prompt engineering, model selection | Model selection, fine-tuning, prompt design | Model selection, fine-tuning | Model selection, fine-tuning, MLflow |
| Integration Capabilities | APIs, SDKs, cloud platforms | APIs, SDKs, integrations with AWS | APIs, SDKs, integrations with Microsoft products | APIs, SDKs, integration with Google services | APIs, SDKs, integrations with DDN storage | APIs, SDKs, integrations with cloud platforms and BI tools |
| Enterprise Support & Training | LLM University, dedicated support | Training courses, enterprise support | Enterprise support, training resources | Training courses, certifications, support resources | Training resources, support services | Databricks Academy, certifications, support resources |
| Pricing Structure | Per token, tiered plans | Per token, tiered plans | Per token, tiered plans | Per token, usage-based, free tier | Per token, dedicated capacity | DBUs (Databricks Units), tiered plans |
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
High Performance: Cerebras' Wafer Scale Engine and CS series deliver exceptional speed and processing power for demanding AI workloads, particularly large model training and inference.
Scalability: Cerebras effectively scales AI infrastructure, from single CS-3 systems to multiple AI data centers, expanding inference capacity significantly.
Data Sovereignty: Cerebras Inference operates within US-based data centers with zero data retention, addressing critical data sovereignty and security concerns.
Ease of Use (for specific applications): The Cerebras AI Model Studio simplifies large language model training, and Hugging Face integration eases developer access to inference capabilities.
Open Source Support: Support for Llama, Mistral, and DeepSeek provides flexibility and access to a broad range of AI technologies and community resources.
Targeted Solutions: Offerings like Cerebras DocChat and strategic partnerships address specific enterprise needs and industry challenges.
Weaknesses
Niche Focus: The focus on high-end AI compute solutions may not be relevant for all enterprises with less computationally intensive needs.
Potential Vendor Lock-in: Reliance on proprietary Wafer Scale Engine technology could lead to vendor lock-in.
Limited Public Information (in certain areas): Details on pricing and technical specifications may require direct vendor engagement.
Newer Entrant (compared to cloud giants): Cerebras is a relatively new player compared to established cloud providers with longer track records.
Ecosystem Maturity: The ecosystem of tools and community support for WSE technology might be less mature than those of more widely adopted platforms.
Final Evaluation Score
| Criteria | Weight | Cerebras Systems Score (out of 10) | Weighted Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Features and Capabilities | 0.30 | 9 | 2.7 |
| Security and Compliance | 0.25 | 8 | 2.0 |
| Flexibility and Scalability | 0.20 | 8 | 1.6 |
| Integration Capabilities | 0.10 | 7 | 0.7 |
| Support and Training | 0.05 | 7 | 0.35 |
| Pricing and Total Cost of Ownership | 0.10 | 7 | 0.7 |
| Total Weighted Score | 1.00 | 8.05 |
Conclusion
Enterprises considering adopting Cerebras Systems should carefully evaluate their specific AI needs and the maturity of the Cerebras ecosystem for their intended use cases. While the company offers compelling performance advantages, potential vendor lock-in and the relative newness of the platform compared to established cloud giants should be taken into account. Engaging directly with Cerebras for detailed pricing information and exploring opportunities for pilot programs or proof-of-concept deployments is recommended to fully assess the suitability of their solutions.
Looking ahead, Cerebras Systems appears poised to continue making significant strides in the enterprise AI market, particularly in sectors that can leverage its unique high-performance computing capabilities. As the company continues to expand its ecosystem, build partnerships, and potentially offer more transparent pricing models, its adoption among enterprises is likely to grow. The recent investment in inference data centers signals a strong commitment to addressing a critical need in the enterprise AI landscape, further solidifying Cerebras' position as an innovative player in this rapidly evolving market.