The Intel I486 microprocessor is compatible with the Qimeng-CPU-V1, designed using AI. | Image Credit-Intel
China has discovered an AI system called Qimeng, which is used to speed up the development of chip designs. Designing the entire CPU using a large-scale language model (LLM), so far, this AI process has helped China create two processors. Comparable to the Intel 486, Qimeng-CPU-V1 and Qimeng-CPU-V2 are said to be comparable to the ARM cortical A53 used in lower to mid-range devices.
This is there. The Intel 486 dates back to 1989, but if V2 actually matches the performance cortical A53, it would be a 23-year improvement since Cortex-A53 went back to 2012. The project, run by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), should be able to use AI to design processors that are equivalent to those with current specs. Reportedly, what Qimeng can accomplish in a few days is a task that takes a human team to weeks.
For example, a chip made for self-driving cars can take weeks for a human-made team to create one. Qimeng was able to complete the same task in just a few days.
Two of the top chip designers in the Electronic Design Automation (EDA) industry, Cadence and Synopsys use AI in the key chip design steps of design and verification. Synopsys is far ahead of CAS. synopsys.ai helps design chips that are displayed on tape with over 200 tapes. The chips removed with tape are sent to the foundry to confirm and manufacture the design.
The AI-created processor is displayed on the circuit board. | Image Credits – Chinese Academy of Sciences
LLM represents the technology used by AI chatbots and Qimeng. Qimeng's ascension comes at the perfect time in China as the US is putting pressure on major EDA companies to avoid China. The country is seeking independence in the semiconductor industry. Still, EDA software suppliers, including the aforementioned cadence design systems and overviews, and Siemens EDA, are carrying out new export controls for Chinese products, whose trio has generated 82% of their domestic EDA revenue.
The goal of developing Qimeng was to reduce costs, speed up the development cycle, and increase efficiency compared to using manual chip design methods, but the Qimeng V3 is important. The next version of Qimengt will show whether AI systems can design more modern processors, helping the Chinese semiconductor industry compensate for sanctions that will prevent US EDA companies from doing business in the country. Synopsys, Cadence and Siemens EDA currently require a license from the US Department of Commerce to do business in China.
