There's a new frontier in computer processor development giving the minnows a chance to compete with the likes of Intel, Nvidia and Qualcomm. According to an article this weekend in the New York Times this computer processor market segment targets artificial intelligence. NYT contributor Cade Metz reports that there are now at least 45 start-ups working on AI chips and at least five of them have raised more than $100 million from investors.
For many years processor development has been out of reach for start-ups, as established players built up barriers to competition using both business (partnerships, vertical integration, massive R&D budgets) and legal (copyright etc) frameworks. However the AI processor niche players often tackle processor designs from a completely different angle. As it is such a new field, innovative left-field thinking can have a big impact.
Remember, last week Intel revealed more info about its cutting edge chip designs. While x86 is its cash cow Intel is researching many other data processing ideas such as quantum computing, neuromorphic computing (Loihi), and neural network processors (Nervana). In the NYT article it relates how "Intel scrambled," to buy Nervana in 2016. It paid over $400 million for this 48-person deep-learning startup.
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