Behind every AI model is specialised hardware, and demand for it has turned chip design into one of the most strategic industries in the world.
Why GPUs won the first round
Graphics processors happened to be excellent at the parallel matrix maths neural networks need, and a mature software ecosystem made them the default choice for researchers.
The custom silicon wave
Large cloud providers now design their own accelerators to reduce costs and dependency on a single supplier. Startups are targeting inference specifically, where efficiency matters most.
Software is the moat
Raw performance is only part of the story. Compilers, libraries and developer tools determine whether a chip is practical to use, and they take years to mature.
Key takeaways
- Why GPUs won the first round
- The custom silicon wave
- Software is the moat
