While people are wondering about what the future of artificial intelligence (AI) is, it is already here. From the smart home thermostats that analyze the historic weather trends to the shopping applications that recommend best suitable clothing option by monitoring the purchase history, every smart application consists of next-generation AI chip. And people use it without realizing the potential of it. However, the advancements and improvements in AI chips done by tech giants such as Microsoft and Facebook are changing the course of the future artificial intelligence applications.
Microsoft Is Paving the Way
Similar to Google, Microsoft is following the trend of Google to develop a better AI chip. The company is currently working on several platforms to complement its AI technology. It has deployed customizable chips in its servers for Azure, the cloud computing service created by Microsoft. At the end of March, Microsoft declared job openings for candidates that can work on the development of AI chips. Moreover, Microsoft made clear that it is ready to spend money to have full-featured cloud as it has to compete with Google and Amazon. Google is already developing third-generation AI chips, becoming an early industry to take lead on AI chip market. The competition of such tech giants has boosted the AI chip market. According to Allied Market Research, the market is growing at a CAGR of 49.6% in the period of 2017-2023.
Facebook, Intel, And Other Small Startups Entering the AI Chips Market
Apart from Google and Microsoft, there are other companies that have shown interest in developing AI chips. Recently, Facebook and Intel have joined forces to develop new generation AI chip. With so much hype going on regarding the development of AI chips and its potential in future, Intel plans to develop their own semiconductor technology tailored for tasks including AI and deep learning. Apart from the big fishes of the information technology sector, small companies and startups are developing the AI chips. A China-based startup, Unicorn, has raised $100 million from investors to offer several enhancements and improvements to the traditional semiconductor market. The startups chips have higher integration density and work wonders in smartphones and laptops. However, Unicorn is planning to develop AI chips for tailored to specific systems and application. This approach is regarded as the key to unlocking the true potential of AI in the coming future.
Recently, an AI chip called Jetson Xavier, developed by Nvidia, the developers and designers of the 3D graphics processors and software that is worth $10,000 of power cramped in a box. However, the company made a statement that the chip will not be used for phones or laptops, but it is developed for robots. The company co-founder and CEO, Jensen Huang, stated, Robots that drive, that fly, that swim, [a robot] that goes underground, that picks strawberries, pick lettuce, picks apples, helps you in the lab, like Jarvis handing you your screwdriver – this little computer is the brains of future intelligent machines. The Jetson Xavier is rumored to have six processors that can run at the speed of 30 trillion processor per second and consumes less power. Nvidia is not new to the business of AI chips. Previously, the company had developed autonomous warehouse robots, agricultural robots, fruit-picking robots. However, Jetson Xavier is said to be 20 times faster than the previous AI chips developed by Nvidia.
Not Just in Smartphones, AI Chips in Cars and Home Security Camera
There is a possibility that AI incorporated in smartphones can recognize friends faces by scanning photo albums and the smart speakers will have a human-resembling voice. Todays smart speakers such as Amazons Echo and Google Home are the cutting-edge AI technology, but it relies on digital network to understand the commands and processing. Built-in AI chips can help understand the commands faster and improve their functionality by reducing the delays. Moreover, apart from smartphones, AI chips can be used in cars to improve autonomous driving. In drones, AI chips can be of big help as it can enable to avoid obstacles and detect moving objects.
From developing PCBs to playing a vital role in augmented reality, the next-generation AI chips have a potential to revolutionize the standard of living. However, the technology is still new, even to the leading companies such as Microsoft, Facebook, and Intel, and the breakthroughs from the new companies such as Unicorn are just the start of the advanced era of artificial intelligence.
Swamini Kulkarni holds a bachelors degree in Instrumentation and control engineering from Pune University.
