Andreessen Horowitz has introduced a new “Machine Age” fund, successfully securing $1.1 billion. The objective of this fund is to “accelerate the physical development of AI.”

The fund will emphasize hardware, diverging from the firm’s usual focus on software scalability. In a blog post on the venture capital firm’s site, a16z states that the fund will target investments in the infrastructure that supports AI — covering everything from computer chips and memory to data centers and robotic systems.

“We require faster, more efficient systems. We necessitate lower-cost and higher-bandwidth memory throughout the memory hierarchy. We demand quicker and more scalable interconnections between nodes and systems. We need power-efficient edge devices for AI to explore and engage with the world. Additionally, we need all the cooling solutions, materials, electrical systems, and real estate development to sustain them,” the post states.

AI is the “most powerful tool ever created for addressing challenges and generating abundance,” the firm asserts, labeling its progress a “social and national necessity.”