人工智能芯片初創(chuàng)公司Tenstorrent融資7億美元,估值約為26億美元,亞馬遜(Amazon. com Inc.)創(chuàng)始人杰夫·貝佐斯與三星(Samsung)均參與了此輪融資。這家公司的目標(biāo)是與英偉達(dá)(Nvidia Corp.)一較高下。
Tenstorrent創(chuàng)始人、半導(dǎo)體行業(yè)先驅(qū)吉姆·凱勒在一次采訪中表示,Tenstorrent希望開發(fā)一款芯片,以打破英偉達(dá)在人工智能行業(yè)的壟斷地位。該公司完成的此輪融資,由韓國AFW Partners和三星證券(Samsung Securities)領(lǐng)投,參投方包括貝佐斯探險(xiǎn)基金(Bezos Expeditions)、LG電子(LG Electronics Inc.)和富達(dá)基金(Fidelity),投資者看好凱勒的行業(yè)資歷,以及人工智能技術(shù)帶來的蓬勃發(fā)展機(jī)會。
這筆資金將用于擴(kuò)大Tenstorrent的工程團(tuán)隊(duì),投資其全球供應(yīng)鏈,并建立大型人工智能訓(xùn)練服務(wù)器,以幫助展示其技術(shù)。
隨著人工智能領(lǐng)域?qū)Ω蠊β屎统杀拘实淖非笤絹碓礁?,許多小公司如雨后春筍般涌現(xiàn),試圖從英偉達(dá)的高功耗芯片中搶占市場份額。Tenstorrent與英偉達(dá)均位于加利福尼亞州圣克拉拉,是眾多致力于提供更經(jīng)濟(jì)實(shí)惠的AI開發(fā)解決方案的公司之一。其解決方案基于開源和常見技術(shù),避免了英偉達(dá)青睞的高帶寬內(nèi)存(HBM)等復(fù)雜且昂貴的組件。
凱勒表示:“如果你使用高帶寬內(nèi)存,就無法打敗英偉達(dá),因?yàn)橛ミ_(dá)囤積的高帶寬內(nèi)存最多,并且具有成本優(yōu)勢,但由于英偉達(dá)在他們的產(chǎn)品和插槽中內(nèi)置了高帶寬內(nèi)存,所以他們永遠(yuǎn)無法降低價(jià)格?!?/p>
英偉達(dá)為開發(fā)者提供了一整套專有技術(shù),涵蓋從芯片到互連甚至數(shù)據(jù)中心布局的各個方面,英偉達(dá)承諾所有部件搭配使用性能更佳,因?yàn)檫@些部件均經(jīng)過統(tǒng)一設(shè)計(jì)。超微半導(dǎo)體公司(Advanced Micro Devices Inc.)和Tenstorrent等競爭對手則致力于通過遵循共享行業(yè)標(biāo)準(zhǔn),或者將設(shè)計(jì)開放給其他方使用等方式,實(shí)現(xiàn)與其他技術(shù)供應(yīng)商更大的互操作性。
Tenstorrent也是一種基于開源標(biāo)準(zhǔn)RISC-V的替代邏輯處理器的支持者,這對安謀控股(Arm Holdings Plc)構(gòu)成了挑戰(zhàn)。凱勒因在蘋果公司(Apple Inc.)、特斯拉公司(Tesla Inc.)和AMD的芯片設(shè)計(jì)工作而聞名,他是開源標(biāo)準(zhǔn)RISC-V的倡導(dǎo)者。
凱勒表示:“我以前使用專有技術(shù)進(jìn)行設(shè)計(jì),確實(shí)很受約束。而開源技術(shù)可幫助你建立更大的平臺。它能吸引工程師。而且,這的確有點(diǎn)像一個出于熱情而開展的項(xiàng)目?!?/p>
與RISC-V和日本合作伙伴Rapidus株式會社(Rapidus Corp.)類似,Tenstorrent還需要在許多地方證明自己的價(jià)值。迄今為止,這家新公司與客戶簽署的合同總價(jià)值接近1.5億美元,但這與英偉達(dá)每季度數(shù)百億美元的數(shù)據(jù)中心收入相比相形見絀。
凱勒表示,Tenstorrent計(jì)劃每兩年發(fā)布一款新的AI處理器。而英偉達(dá)的老板黃仁勛在6月份表示,英偉達(dá)打算每年更新其AI芯片產(chǎn)品。
AFW Partners的董事總經(jīng)理具本一(Bonil Koo)表示,公司聽到了已經(jīng)與Tenstorrent達(dá)成合作的韓國公司(如LG)的積極反饋,于是參與了投資。
Tenstorrent表示,公司的首批芯片由格芯(GlobalFoundries Inc.)制造,下一代芯片將由臺灣積體電路制造公司(Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing)和三星電子(Samsung Electronics Co.)制造。公司已經(jīng)開始設(shè)計(jì)尖端的2納米制造工藝。臺積電和三星將于明年開始大規(guī)模量產(chǎn)2納米芯片。此外,Tenstorrent正在與這兩家公司以及日本的Rapidus進(jìn)行談判,后者計(jì)劃在2027年實(shí)現(xiàn)量產(chǎn)2納米芯片。
本輪融資的其他投資者包括加拿大出口發(fā)展公司(Export Development Canada)、安大略省醫(yī)療保健養(yǎng)老金計(jì)劃(Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan)、現(xiàn)代汽車集團(tuán)(Hyundai Motor Group)和巴美列捷福(Baillie Gifford)。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:劉進(jìn)龍
審校:汪皓
人工智能芯片初創(chuàng)公司Tenstorrent融資7億美元,估值約為26億美元,亞馬遜(Amazon. com Inc.)創(chuàng)始人杰夫·貝佐斯與三星(Samsung)均參與了此輪融資。這家公司的目標(biāo)是與英偉達(dá)(Nvidia Corp.)一較高下。
Tenstorrent創(chuàng)始人、半導(dǎo)體行業(yè)先驅(qū)吉姆·凱勒在一次采訪中表示,Tenstorrent希望開發(fā)一款芯片,以打破英偉達(dá)在人工智能行業(yè)的壟斷地位。該公司完成的此輪融資,由韓國AFW Partners和三星證券(Samsung Securities)領(lǐng)投,參投方包括貝佐斯探險(xiǎn)基金(Bezos Expeditions)、LG電子(LG Electronics Inc.)和富達(dá)基金(Fidelity),投資者看好凱勒的行業(yè)資歷,以及人工智能技術(shù)帶來的蓬勃發(fā)展機(jī)會。
這筆資金將用于擴(kuò)大Tenstorrent的工程團(tuán)隊(duì),投資其全球供應(yīng)鏈,并建立大型人工智能訓(xùn)練服務(wù)器,以幫助展示其技術(shù)。
隨著人工智能領(lǐng)域?qū)Ω蠊β屎统杀拘实淖非笤絹碓礁?,許多小公司如雨后春筍般涌現(xiàn),試圖從英偉達(dá)的高功耗芯片中搶占市場份額。Tenstorrent與英偉達(dá)均位于加利福尼亞州圣克拉拉,是眾多致力于提供更經(jīng)濟(jì)實(shí)惠的AI開發(fā)解決方案的公司之一。其解決方案基于開源和常見技術(shù),避免了英偉達(dá)青睞的高帶寬內(nèi)存(HBM)等復(fù)雜且昂貴的組件。
凱勒表示:“如果你使用高帶寬內(nèi)存,就無法打敗英偉達(dá),因?yàn)橛ミ_(dá)囤積的高帶寬內(nèi)存最多,并且具有成本優(yōu)勢,但由于英偉達(dá)在他們的產(chǎn)品和插槽中內(nèi)置了高帶寬內(nèi)存,所以他們永遠(yuǎn)無法降低價(jià)格?!?/p>
英偉達(dá)為開發(fā)者提供了一整套專有技術(shù),涵蓋從芯片到互連甚至數(shù)據(jù)中心布局的各個方面,英偉達(dá)承諾所有部件搭配使用性能更佳,因?yàn)檫@些部件均經(jīng)過統(tǒng)一設(shè)計(jì)。超微半導(dǎo)體公司(Advanced Micro Devices Inc.)和Tenstorrent等競爭對手則致力于通過遵循共享行業(yè)標(biāo)準(zhǔn),或者將設(shè)計(jì)開放給其他方使用等方式,實(shí)現(xiàn)與其他技術(shù)供應(yīng)商更大的互操作性。
Tenstorrent也是一種基于開源標(biāo)準(zhǔn)RISC-V的替代邏輯處理器的支持者,這對安謀控股(Arm Holdings Plc)構(gòu)成了挑戰(zhàn)。凱勒因在蘋果公司(Apple Inc.)、特斯拉公司(Tesla Inc.)和AMD的芯片設(shè)計(jì)工作而聞名,他是開源標(biāo)準(zhǔn)RISC-V的倡導(dǎo)者。
凱勒表示:“我以前使用專有技術(shù)進(jìn)行設(shè)計(jì),確實(shí)很受約束。而開源技術(shù)可幫助你建立更大的平臺。它能吸引工程師。而且,這的確有點(diǎn)像一個出于熱情而開展的項(xiàng)目。”
與RISC-V和日本合作伙伴Rapidus株式會社(Rapidus Corp.)類似,Tenstorrent還需要在許多地方證明自己的價(jià)值。迄今為止,這家新公司與客戶簽署的合同總價(jià)值接近1.5億美元,但這與英偉達(dá)每季度數(shù)百億美元的數(shù)據(jù)中心收入相比相形見絀。
凱勒表示,Tenstorrent計(jì)劃每兩年發(fā)布一款新的AI處理器。而英偉達(dá)的老板黃仁勛在6月份表示,英偉達(dá)打算每年更新其AI芯片產(chǎn)品。
AFW Partners的董事總經(jīng)理具本一(Bonil Koo)表示,公司聽到了已經(jīng)與Tenstorrent達(dá)成合作的韓國公司(如LG)的積極反饋,于是參與了投資。
Tenstorrent表示,公司的首批芯片由格芯(GlobalFoundries Inc.)制造,下一代芯片將由臺灣積體電路制造公司(Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing)和三星電子(Samsung Electronics Co.)制造。公司已經(jīng)開始設(shè)計(jì)尖端的2納米制造工藝。臺積電和三星將于明年開始大規(guī)模量產(chǎn)2納米芯片。此外,Tenstorrent正在與這兩家公司以及日本的Rapidus進(jìn)行談判,后者計(jì)劃在2027年實(shí)現(xiàn)量產(chǎn)2納米芯片。
本輪融資的其他投資者包括加拿大出口發(fā)展公司(Export Development Canada)、安大略省醫(yī)療保健養(yǎng)老金計(jì)劃(Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan)、現(xiàn)代汽車集團(tuán)(Hyundai Motor Group)和巴美列捷福(Baillie Gifford)。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:劉進(jìn)龍
審校:汪皓
Amazon.com Inc. founder Jeff Bezos joined Samsung in a $700 million bet on Tenstorrent, valuing the AI chip startup with ambitions of taking on Nvidia Corp. at about $2.6 billion.
Tenstorrent, which hopes to create a chip to try and break Nvidia’s stranglehold on the AI business, raised capital in a funding round led by South Korea’s AFW Partners and Samsung Securities, founder and semiconductor pioneer Jim Keller said in an interview. Bezos Expeditions joined LG Electronics Inc. and Fidelity in that financing, betting on Keller’s pedigree and the booming opportunity in artificial intelligence tech.
The money will be used to build out Tenstorrent’s engineering team, invest in its global supply chain and build large artificial intelligence training servers to help demonstrate its technology.
As the quest for more power and cost efficiency in AI ramps up, smaller companies are sprouting up trying to snatch market share from Nvidia’s power-hungry chips. Tenstorrent, an Nvidia neighbor in Santa Clara, California, is one of many now engineering solutions aimed at delivering a more affordable path to AI development. That’s built on open-source and commonplace technology, avoiding complex and pricey components like the high-bandwidth memory Nvidia favors.
“You can’t beat Nvidia if you use HBM, because Nvidia buys the most HBM and has a cost advantage,” Keller said. “But they’ll never be able to bring the price down the way HBM is built into their products and their sockets.”
Nvidia offers developers a full suite of proprietary technology, covering everything from the chips to the interconnects and even data center layouts, with the promise of all parts working better because they were designed in concert. Companies like rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc. and Tenstorrent are instead aiming for greater interoperability with other technology providers, whether through shared industry standards or opening their designs for others to use.
Tenstorrent is also a proponent of an alternative kind of logic processor based on an open standard called RISC-V, which poses a challenge to Arm Holdings Plc. Keller, known for his silicon design work at Apple Inc., Tesla Inc. and AMD, is an advocate.
“In the past, I worked with proprietary tech and it was really tough,” Keller said. “Open source helps you build a bigger platform. It attracts engineers. And yes, it’s a little bit of a passion project.”
Much like RISC-V and Japanese partner Rapidus Corp., Tenstorrent still has a lot to prove. To date, the nascent company has signed contracts with customers totaling nearly $150 million, which pales in comparison to Nvidia’s tens of billions of dollars of datacenter revenue each quarter.
Tenstorrent plans to release a new AI processor at a cadence of every two years, Keller said. Nvidia, on the other hand, intends to refresh its AI chip offerings on an annual cycle, its boss Jensen Huang said in June.
AFW Partners invested after hearing positive feedback from Korean companies already collaborating with Tenstorrent, such as LG, said managing director Bonil Koo.
Tenstorrent’s first chips were made by GlobalFoundries Inc., and the next iterations will come from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and Samsung Electronics Co., the company said. It’s begun designing for cutting-edge 2-nanometer fabrication as well. TSMC and Samsung will commence their mass production at that scale next year, and Tenstorrent is in discussions with them and Japan’s Rapidus, which aims for 2nm output in 2027.
Other investors in this funding round include Export Development Canada, Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan, [hotlink]Hyundai Motor[/hotlink] Group and Baillie Gifford.