Crusoe AI: A deep dive into the infrastructure powering the AI revolution

You’ve probably seen the headlines about the explosive growth of AI. It feels like every week there’s a new model that can write, code, or create images better than the last. But behind all the buzz around tools like ChatGPT is a massive, almost invisible world of physical infrastructure, a network of data centers so large and power-hungry they’re actually changing the global energy landscape. One of the key players building this foundation is Crusoe AI.

They’re a fascinating, lesser-known company at the heart of building these new "factories for intelligence." In this post, we'll break down what Crusoe AI is, explore the different layers of the AI world from the concrete foundations to the software on your screen, and figure out what it all means for businesses looking for practical AI solutions today.

What is Crusoe AI?

When people talk about "Crusoe AI," they’re usually referring to Crusoe Energy Systems, a company that builds and operates the physical data centers that power artificial intelligence. They’re what you’d call a vertically integrated AI infrastructure company, which is just a fancy way of saying they handle everything from the power source all the way up to the computing chip.

Their backstory is pretty interesting. Crusoe started out with a clever solution to a big energy problem: they captured wasted natural gas that was being burned off (a process called flaring) at oil fields and used it to power mobile data centers right on-site. At first, these data centers were used for energy-guzzling tasks like bitcoin mining.

But then the AI boom took off, and Crusoe saw a bigger opportunity. They pivoted, applying their expertise in energy and computing to a much bigger challenge: building the massive, power-hungry data centers needed for training and running large-scale AI models. Now, they’re a major player in the AI infrastructure world, focused on building facilities powered by a mix of clean, stranded, and alternative energy sources. Their whole mission is to align the future of computing with the future of the climate.

Crusoe's founder, Chase Lochmiller, reveals how his company is constructing massive AI data centers in record time to power the next generation of AI.

Understanding the modern AI stack and Crusoe AI

To really understand where companies like Crusoe fit in and how your business can actually use AI, it helps to think of the AI world in three distinct layers: Infrastructure, Platform, and Application. Let's walk through them one by one.

The infrastructure layer: Building the factories for AI

This is Crusoe’s home turf. The infrastructure layer is all about the physical stuff: the land, the buildings, the power grids, the cooling systems, and the racks upon racks of specialized computer chips. These data centers are literally the "factories" where AI is manufactured and run.

And Crusoe is involved in some seriously huge projects. A great example is the Stargate project in Abilene, Texas, a multi-billion dollar joint venture with giants like OpenAI and Oracle. We’re talking about a campus that could eventually consume over 1.2 gigawatts of power, enough to run a small city.

This kind of infrastructure is so important because modern AI models, especially large language models (LLMs), have an incredible appetite for two things: electricity and specialized hardware like NVIDIA's graphics processing units (GPUs). Building and operating at this scale requires billions in capital, deep engineering expertise, and years-long timelines. It’s a fascinating and vital part of the AI ecosystem, but it's not a layer most businesses can, or should, ever interact with directly.

The platform layer: The race for compute

Once the physical factories are built, you need a way to access the machinery inside. That’s where the platform layer comes in. This is where companies offer raw access to their computing power, often called Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) or Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS).

Crusoe has its own offering here called Crusoe Cloud, which gives customers access to its powerful GPU clusters for training and running their own AI models. This layer is designed for a very specific, highly technical audience. Think of AI researchers at universities, data science teams at tech giants, or engineers at venture-backed startups who are building custom AI models from the ground up.

While incredibly powerful, this layer comes with its own hurdles. Using a platform like this requires deep technical knowledge of machine learning frameworks, a hefty budget for paying for every second of compute time, and a dedicated team to manage the sheer complexity of it all. For most businesses, being handed raw access to a GPU cluster is like being given a jet engine when all you really need is a car. It’s powerful, but not very practical for getting from point A to point B.

The application layer: Turning infrastructure into business value

This is where things get interesting, and it’s the most important layer for the vast majority of businesses. The application layer is where all that raw power from the infrastructure and platform layers gets packaged into ready-to-use software that solves a specific business problem.

Companies in the application layer do all the heavy lifting. They manage the data centers, configure the GPUs, and handle all the backend complexity so you don't have to. They deliver the benefits of AI through a simple, intuitive interface that anyone can use.

A perfect example of an application-layer solution is eesel AI. Instead of giving you a complicated dashboard of servers to manage, eesel AI provides a focused solution for customer service and internal support automation. It makes the power of the entire AI stack accessible to everyone. Here’s how:

• You don't have to worry about the technical stuff: You aren't managing GPUs or worrying about data center uptime. You just connect your existing tools like Zendesk, Slack, or Confluence with a few clicks. eesel AI handles all the infrastructure behind the scenes.

• Go live in minutes, not months: Building a data center takes years. Getting set up on a raw cloud platform can take months of engineering work. With eesel AI, you can have a fully functional AI agent learning from your knowledge and handling tickets in less than an hour. It’s designed to be radically self-serve.

• It solves a real business problem: eesel AI doesn't just give you raw compute power and wish you luck. It gives you an immediate solution to cut down on support ticket volume, draft replies for your agents, and answer repetitive questions instantly. It’s AI applied directly to a business need.

A look at the eesel AI platform, which simplifies complex Crusoe AI infrastructure into a user-friendly application for businesses.

Comparing costs: Infrastructure vs. predictable subscriptions

The difference in cost and complexity between the layers is pretty wild. At the infrastructure and platform layers, you're in a world of multi-billion dollar joint ventures, opaque enterprise contracts, and eye-watering hourly rates for GPU usage. Building an AI data center doesn't come with a public price tag; it's an investment on the same scale as building a skyscraper.

This level of spending is completely out of reach for all but a handful of the world's biggest technology companies.

Contrast that with the clear, predictable pricing of application-layer solutions like eesel AI. Businesses can get all the benefits of the underlying AI revolution without the massive capital outlay or unpredictable usage-based bills. eesel AI’s pricing is based on the features and capacity you need, with no per-resolution fees, so you never get a surprise bill after a busy month.

Plan	Monthly (bill monthly)	Effective /mo Annual	Bots	AI Interactions/mo	Key Unlocks
Team	$299	$239	Up to 3	Up to 1,000	Train on website/docs; Copilot for help desk; Slack; reports.
Business	$799	$639	Unlimited	Up to 3,000	Everything in Team + train on past tickets; MS Teams; AI Actions (triage/API calls); bulk simulation; EU data residency.
Custom	Contact Sales	Custom	Unlimited	Unlimited	Advanced actions; multi‑agent orchestration; custom integrations; custom data retention; advanced security / controls.

Focus on the application, not the abstraction

The world of AI can be broken down into three layers. The Infrastructure is the "what," built by ambitious companies like Crusoe AI. The Platform is the "how," a complex toolkit for technical experts. And the Application is the "why", the part where AI actually delivers business results.

While the infrastructure race is a fascinating and necessary foundation for the future of AI, the immediate, tangible value for your company lies firmly in the application layer. To use AI effectively today, you don't need to become an expert in data center logistics or GPU management. You just need to find the right tool that solves your specific business challenges.

Ready to apply AI to your business today?

While the titans of tech build the foundations of tomorrow's AI, you can transform your customer support right now. eesel AI plugs directly into your existing helpdesk and knowledge sources, letting you deploy a powerful AI agent in minutes, not months.

You can simulate its performance on your past tickets, customize its actions, and start automating resolutions with confidence. Start your free trial today.