TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Google is reportedly partnering with Taiwan's MediaTek to produce its next generation of AI chips, known as Tensor Processing Units.
According to The Information, production will begin next year. This is despite Google not yet severing ties with Broadcom, the US-based semiconductor manufacturing company it has collaborated with in the past few years.
If the deal goes through, MediaTek could be in charge of processing input/out modules that handle communication between the main processors and other components, according to Silicon Angle.
“TPUs are optimized for Google’s TensorFlow framework and enhance both training and inference processes by efficiently handling the computational demands of deep learning models,” per Silicon Angle.
Google chose MediaTek because of its close ties with TSMC and cheaper chip prices compared to Broadcom, Reuters reported.
MediaTek and TSMC announced last week they demonstrated the first silicon-proven power management unit and integrated power amplifier using TSMC’s N6RF+ process.
“This achievement makes it possible to integrate these two essential components into a system-on-chip on an advanced RF process for wireless connectivity products, enabling a significantly smaller form factor while enjoying performance competitive with stand-alone modules,” MediaTek said in a press release.
