A Buyers Guide To An NPU


Choosing the right AI inference NPU (Neural Processing Unit) is a critical decision for a chip architect. There’s a lot at stake because as the AI landscape constantly changes, the choices will impact overall product cost, performance, and long-term viability. There are myriad options regarding system architecture and IP suppliers, and this can be daunting for even the most seasoned semicondu... » read more

Revolutionizing Product Development And User Experience: The Transformative Power Of Generative AI


Generative AI has become a prominent and versatile solution across various domains, including chip and system development. Its progress and impact have outpaced many other technological advancements, significantly benefiting numerous areas. In the semiconductor industry, EDA tools with generative AI have already established their position by offering unparalleled optimization capabilities. Thes... » read more

(Vision) Transformers: Rise Of The Chimera


It’s 2023 and transformers are having a moment. No, I’m not talking about the latest installment of the Transformers movie franchise, "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts"; I’m talking about the deep learning model architecture class, transformers, that is fueling anticipation, excitement, fear, and investment in AI. Transformers are not so new in the world of AI anymore; they were first ... » read more

Week In Review: Semiconductor Manufacturing, Test


Applied Materials sued its Chinese-owned rival, Mattson, over an alleged 14-month effort to steal valuable trade secrets, reports Bloomberg. In court filing, Applied Materials claimed that Mattson engaged in a spree of employee-poaching and covertly transferring semiconductor equipment designs. Global semiconductor materials revenue grew 8.9% to $72.7 billion in 2022, surpassing the previous... » read more

CEO Outlook: Chiplets, Data Management, And Reliability


Semiconductor Engineering sat down to talk about changes in chip design with Joseph Sawicki, executive vice president for IC EDA at Siemens Digital Industries Software; John Kibarian, president and CEO of PDF Solutions; John Lee, general manager and vice president of Ansys' Semiconductor Business Unit; Niels Faché, vice president and general manager of PathWave Software Solutions at Keysight; ... » read more

Welcome To EDA 4.0 And The AI-Driven Revolution


By Dan Yu, Harry Foster, and Tom Fitzpatrick Welcome to the era of EDA 4.0, where we are witnessing a revolutionary transformation in electronic design automation driven by the power of artificial intelligence. The history of EDA can be delineated into distinct periods marked by significant technological advancements that have propelled faster design iterations, improved productivity, and fu... » read more

Security Becomes Much Bigger Issue For AI/ML Chips, Tools


Security is becoming a bigger issue in AI and machine learning chips, in part because the chip industry is racing just to get new devices working, and in part because it's difficult to secure a new technology that is expected to adapt over time. And unlike in the past, when tools and methodologies were relatively fixed, nearly everything is in motion. Algorithms are being changed, EDA tools ... » read more

Improving Image Resolution At The Edge


How much cameras see depends on how accurately the images are rendered and classified. The higher the resolution, the greater the accuracy. But higher resolution also requires significantly more computation, and it requires flexibility in the design to be able to adapt to new algorithms and network models. Jeremy Roberson, technical director and software architect for AI/ML at Flex Logix, talks... » read more

Chip Design CEO Outlook


Semiconductor Engineering sat down with Joseph Sawicki, executive vice president for IC EDA at Siemens Digital Industries Software; John Kibarian, president and CEO of PDF Solutions; John Lee, general manager and vice president of Ansys' Semiconductor Business Unit; Niels Faché, vice president and general manager of PathWave Software Solutions at Keysight; Dean Drako, president and CEO of IC M... » read more

An Ideal Always-Sensing Subsystem Architecture


Always-sensing cameras are a relatively new method for users to interact with their smartphones, home appliances, and other consumer devices. Like always-listening audio-based Siri and Alexa, always-sensing cameras enable a seamless, more natural user experience. Through continuous sampling and analyzing visual data, always-sensing enables use cases such as: “Find a face” detection for... » read more

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