Kioxia announced the development of an innovative SSD for AI servers with performance exceeding 10 million IOPS and direct GPU connectivity. The new XL-Flash memory-based drive promises to revolutionize data storage architecture for artificial intelligence applications.
G. Ostrov
Kioxia has unveiled the concept of a revolutionary SSD drive specifically designed for artificial intelligence servers. The new device promises performance exceeding 10 million input/output operations per second (IOPS), which is three times higher than the capabilities of modern high-performance SSDs.
Technical Specifications and Innovations
The key feature of the new drive is the use of XL-Flash memory based on single-level cells (SLC), which provides read latencies of just 3-5 microseconds. For comparison, conventional 3D NAND-based SSDs demonstrate latencies of 40-100 microseconds.
The new controller is specifically optimized to maximize IOPS when working with 512-byte blocks — exactly this block size is most efficient for large language models (LLMs) and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems.
Direct GPU Connectivity
One of the main advantages of the new SSD is the ability for direct data exchange between the drive and graphics processor, bypassing the central processor. This dramatically reduces latency and increases AI system performance.
This approach is particularly important for training large language models, where fast repeated access to massive datasets is required, as well as for inference in systems using RAG technologies to enhance generative AI.
Impact on the AI Industry
Modern high-performance server SSDs typically achieve 2-3 million IOPS for random read operations. Kioxia's new drive promises a revolutionary performance leap that could significantly accelerate AI technology development.
Particularly important is that the drive is optimized for small data blocks (512 bytes), which better match GPU architecture and the requirements of modern AI algorithms.
Release Timeline
Kioxia plans to release its "AI SSD" in the second half of 2026. This gives companies sufficient time to prepare infrastructure for new data storage capabilities.
For additional information about Kioxia products, visit the company's official website.
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