diff --git a/deepspeed/runtime/config.py b/deepspeed/runtime/config.py
index e0aa105be8f3..8e2dcd301e5e 100755
--- a/deepspeed/runtime/config.py
+++ b/deepspeed/runtime/config.py
@@ -163,6 +163,11 @@ def get_fp16_master_weights_and_grads_enabled(param_dict):
         return False
 
 
+def get_fp16_auto_cast(param_dict):
+    if get_fp16_enabled(param_dict):
+        return get_scalar_param(param_dict[FP16], FP16_AUTO_CAST, FP16_AUTO_CAST_DEFAULT)
+
+
 def get_loss_scale(param_dict):
     if get_fp16_enabled(param_dict):
         return get_scalar_param(param_dict[FP16],
@@ -820,6 +825,7 @@ def _initialize_params(self, param_dict):
 
         self.gradient_clipping = get_gradient_clipping(param_dict)
         self.fp16_enabled = get_fp16_enabled(param_dict)
+        self.fp16_auto_cast = get_fp16_auto_cast(param_dict)
         self.bfloat16_enabled = get_bfloat16_enabled(param_dict)
         assert not (self.fp16_enabled and self.bfloat16_enabled), 'bfloat16 and fp16 modes cannot be simultaneously enabled'
         self.fp16_master_weights_and_gradients = get_fp16_master_weights_and_grads_enabled(
diff --git a/deepspeed/runtime/constants.py b/deepspeed/runtime/constants.py
index 2ef10161f042..da36a7199470 100755
--- a/deepspeed/runtime/constants.py
+++ b/deepspeed/runtime/constants.py
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@
 FP16 parameters should be of the format:
 "fp16": {
   "enabled": true,
+  "auto_cast": false,
   "loss_scale": 0,
   "initial_scale_power": 32,
   "loss_scale_window": 1000,
@@ -149,6 +150,9 @@
 FP16_LOSS_SCALE = "loss_scale"
 FP16_LOSS_SCALE_DEFAULT = 0
 
+FP16_AUTO_CAST = "auto_cast"
+FP16_AUTO_CAST_DEFAULT = False
+
 # FP16 initial dynamic scale loss power
 FP16_INITIAL_SCALE_POWER = "initial_scale_power"
 FP16_INITIAL_SCALE_POWER_DEFAULT = 32
diff --git a/deepspeed/runtime/engine.py b/deepspeed/runtime/engine.py
index a67ed6fd7fb7..9f3554fbb78c 100644
--- a/deepspeed/runtime/engine.py
+++ b/deepspeed/runtime/engine.py
@@ -715,6 +715,9 @@ def amp_enabled(self):
     def amp_params(self):
         return self._config.amp_params
 
+    def fp16_auto_cast(self):
+        return self._config.fp16_auto_cast
+
     def loss_scale(self):
         return self._config.loss_scale
 
@@ -1649,6 +1652,9 @@ def forward(self, *inputs, **kwargs):
         if self.training_dataloader is None:
             self.tput_timer.start()
 
+        if self.fp16_auto_cast():
+            inputs = self._cast_inputs_half(inputs)
+
         loss = self.module(*inputs, **kwargs)
 
         if self.zero_optimization_partition_weights():
@@ -1672,6 +1678,22 @@ def forward(self, *inputs, **kwargs):
             see_memory_usage("Engine after forward", force=self.memory_breakdown())
         return loss
 
+    def _cast_inputs_half(self, inputs):
+        if isinstance(inputs, (list, tuple)):
+            new_inputs = []
+            for v in inputs:
+                new_inputs.append(self._cast_inputs_half(v))
+            return inputs.__class__(new_inputs)
+        elif isinstance(inputs, dict):
+            new_inputs = {}
+            for k, v in inputs:
+                new_inputs[k] = self._cast_inputs_half(v)
+            return new_inputs
+        elif hasattr(inputs, 'half'):
+            return inputs.half()
+        else:
+            return inputs
+
     def print_forward_breakdown(self, fwd_time):
         gate_time = 0.0
         moe_time = 0.0
diff --git a/docs/_pages/config-json.md b/docs/_pages/config-json.md
index 6118bece5272..8498b4613c8e 100755
--- a/docs/_pages/config-json.md
+++ b/docs/_pages/config-json.md
@@ -219,6 +219,7 @@ Example of <i>**scheduler**</i>
 ```json
 "fp16": {
     "enabled": true,
+    "auto_cast": false,
     "loss_scale": 0,
     "initial_scale_power": 32,
     "loss_scale_window": 1000,
@@ -233,6 +234,12 @@ Example of <i>**scheduler**</i>
 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- |
 | <i>**enabled**</i> is a **fp16** parameter indicating whether or not FP16 training enabled. | `false` |
 
+<i>**fp16:auto_cast**</i>: [boolean]
+
+| Description                                                  | Default |
+| -------------------------------------------------------------| ------- |
+| <i>**auto_cast**</i> automatically casts inputs to **fp16**  | `false` |
+
 <i>**fp16:loss_scale**</i>: [float]
 
 | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | Default |