At the VMware Explore 2025 conference, Broadcom revealed major enhancements to its VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.0 platform, transforming it into an AI-native private cloud solution. With the integration of VMware Private AI Services as a standard component, Broadcom is positioning VCF as a unified platform capable of running AI alongside traditional workloads—securely, efficiently, and without extra cost.
Key Highlights of the Announcement
1. Private AI Services Become Core to VCF
VCF 9.0 now includes Private AI Services—covering tools like GPU monitoring, model storage and runtime, agent builders, vector databases, and data indexing—offered under standard VCF subscriptions beginning Q1 FY26.
2. VCF Transitions Into an AI-Native Platform
With these enhancements, VCF evolves from a private cloud infrastructure into an AI-first platform, enabling organizations to run, manage, and govern AI models in their private data centers with GPU-level precision and strong data privacy.
3. Expanding Hardware Support: NVIDIA & AMD
Broadcom is extending VCF’s compatibility with the latest NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs (e.g., RTX PRO 6000, B200) and AMD Instinct MI350 GPUs via the ROCm AI stack. These integrations aim to boost performance and flexibility for LLM fine-tuning, RAG workflows, and inference.
4. Smarter Developer and Operator Tools
VCF 9.0 also brings:
- Intelligent Assist: An AI-driven support assistant (in tech preview) for diagnosing and fixing issues quickly.
- Model Context Protocol (MCP): Standardized integration of AI assistants with internal systems like Oracle, GitHub, Slack, and ServiceNow.
- Multi-Accelerator Runtime & Multi-Tenant AI Models: Flexibly deploy AI workloads across AMD and NVIDIA GPUs, and safely share AI models across lines of business.
- Container & Object Storage Enhancements: GitOps compatibility via Argo CD, Istio for service mesh, and support for S3-compatible vSAN object storage.
Customer Impact
VCF’s modernization appeals to both security-conscious enterprises and AI-forward developers:
- Grinnell Mutual and New Belgium Brewing highlight gains in agility, efficiency, and compliance through unified infrastructure.
- VCF now supports stringent cyber compliance with advanced services like vDefend and Avi Load Balancer additions.
Summary Table
| Feature | Benefits & Impact |
|---|---|
| Private AI Services | Built-in AI stack for model training, inference, and deployment. |
| GPU Support (NVIDIA & AMD) | Broad hardware flexibility and performance. |
| Developer Tooling (MCP, GitOps) | Seamless integration and streamlined app delivery. |
| AI Support Assistant | Faster issue resolution and operational efficiency. |
| Unified Hybrid Cloud + AI | Manage AI and traditional workloads under the same platform. |
Insights and Outlook
With top-tier adoption momentum (9 out of 10 Fortune 500 firms using VCF), this move signals a new era: private clouds are transforming into full-scale AI platforms. Analysts like Dave McCarthy view the integration as a clear reaffirmation of Broadcom’s long-term investment in VMware’s infrastructure strategy.
As AI workloads become central to enterprise operations, VCF 9.0—bolstered by integrated AI services, flexible GPU support, and smart automation—positions organizations to securely scale AI innovation on-premises.
