It is an undeniable truth that China's self-sufficiency rate in chips remains low. Among the various types of chips, AI chips have become the most prominent players. It seems that the opportunity for China to overtake in the semiconductor industry is finally here, with artificial intelligence chips at the center of the stage. Chinese AI chips are now entering the security field, and everyone is eager to seize a share of this growing market.
Deep learning technology has acted as a powerful catalyst, reviving the global semiconductor industry. It has the potential to boost the performance of existing chips by up to 10,000 times. For those who have been struggling with the limitations of Moore’s Law, deep learning has brought new hope and excitement.
This has sparked a wave of innovation, with ambitious startups armed with cutting-edge algorithms, determined to disrupt the traditional semiconductor landscape and capture the attention of investors and the market.
According to reports, in the second half of 2017, TSMC, the world’s largest chip foundry, had more than 30 AI chips waiting on its production lines, ready for release. This small-scale trial run signaled that AI chips were getting closer to mass production and real-world application.
In the age of AI, there are "soft" rewards. As the world’s largest electronics manufacturer, China has long faced challenges in chip production. Although it consumes nearly one-third of the world’s chips, the self-sufficiency rate remains low. The saying “China imports more chips than oil†highlights this issue.
Mo Dakang, a senior chip industry expert, stated that the actual self-sufficiency rate is around 10%, while some institutions claim 17%, which includes chips produced by Intel and Samsung in China. Despite these challenges, demand has driven the growth of the domestic chip industry.
Since the 1990s, companies like Huawei HiSilicon, Spreadtrum, and Zhongxingwei have emerged, but they still lag behind global competitors. However, with the rise of AI and deep learning, the situation is changing.
China's large population, abundant data, capital investment, and strong market demand make it a key player in the AI era. The government has also shown strong determination to become an AI power, with AI chips listed as one of the eight key technologies.
All these factors are coming together, signaling a potential turning point. AI chips, also known as deep learning chips or neural chips, are designed specifically for AI applications and are gaining traction.
There are currently 18 startup companies focused on AI chips, mostly operating in the early stages of funding, with a focus on smart and visual applications. Among them, Cambrian from the Chinese Academy of Sciences stands out. It has partnered with Huawei to integrate its AI chip design into the Kirin 970, powering devices like the Mate 10 and V10.
Founded by brothers Chen Yunxi and Chen Tianshi, Cambrian is led by a genius who entered college at 14 and has made significant breakthroughs in AI chip efficiency, increasing computational power by 10,000 times while reducing power consumption by the same amount.
This shift has disrupted the traditional semiconductor industry, which has followed Moore’s Law for decades. Now, software and algorithms are driving progress, leading many AI chip startups to be led by AI researchers rather than traditional hardware engineers.
In 2015, Intel acquired Altera, and analysts warned that many chip entrepreneurs lacked software expertise. FPGA chips became a stepping stone for newcomers to enter the AI space.
Intel continued its aggressive acquisition strategy, buying Nervana, Movidius, and Mobileye, accelerating the race for AI dominance. Meanwhile, Yu Kai, former Baidu researcher, founded Horizon Robotics in 2015, bringing algorithmic expertise to the AI chip space.
His team quickly gained recognition, securing investments and launching their first AI chip in 2017. Similarly, other startups like Shang Tang Technology and ThinkForce also attracted major investors, highlighting the growing interest in AI chips.
Yunzhisheng, a speech recognition company, also entered the chip market, aiming to develop integrated AI solutions. Shenjian Technology, backed by Samsung and Xilinx, emphasized the importance of combining hardware and machine learning.
Startups like Nineng Technology, founded by experienced engineers from top tech companies, have also gained traction, receiving funding from Alibaba and Sequoia Capital.
As AI continues to evolve, the role of AI chips will only grow, reshaping the future of technology and the semiconductor industry.
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