Google Unveils New AI Chips and Arm-Based Central Processor
By Max A. Cherney
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – On Tuesday, Google announced exciting developments in its data center technology, revealing the latest version of its artificial intelligence chips and the introduction of an Arm-based central processor, named Axion.
Why It Matters
Google’s Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) have emerged as a significant contender in the AI chip market, providing one of the few viable alternatives to Nvidia’s advanced chips. However, it’s important to note that these TPUs are exclusively accessible through Google’s Cloud Platform, meaning that developers cannot purchase them outright.
Introducing Axion: An Arm-Based CPU
As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance its cloud computing capabilities, Google plans to offer the Axion CPU via Google Cloud. The company has touted Axion’s superior performance compared to both x86 chips and general-purpose Arm chips available in the cloud.
Key Quote from Google
“We’re making it easy for customers to bring their existing workloads to Arm,” said Mark Lohmeyer, Google Cloud’s vice president and general manager of compute and machine learning infrastructure. “Axion is built on open foundations, but customers using Arm anywhere can easily adopt Axion without re-architecting or re-writing their apps.”
Context of Development
In the competitive landscape of cloud services, tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft have integrated Arm CPUs to differentiate their offerings. While Google has previously developed custom chips for various services, such as YouTube and AI applications, this marks the first occasion it has created its own CPU.
Collaboration and Key Partnerships
Broadcom has collaborated with Google on earlier iterations of TPU chips. However, Google has remained tight-lipped regarding any design partners involved in the Axion project and whether Broadcom had a role in the TPU v5p development.
By the Numbers: Performance Improvements
Google highlighted the impressive capabilities of its new TPU v5p chip, designed to operate in pods of 8,960 chips. This new architecture enables it to achieve double the raw performance compared to its predecessor. To maintain optimal functioning, Google employs advanced liquid cooling techniques within the pods.
Furthermore, the Axion chip is stated to deliver 30% better performance than conventional Arm chips and 50% improved performance compared to current-generation x86 chips made by Intel and Advanced Micro Devices.
What’s Next for Google Cloud
Looking ahead, Google plans to utilize the Axion chip to enhance its services, including powering YouTube Ads through Google Cloud in the near future. While the TPU v5p is now publicly available on Google’s cloud platform, it is essential to clarify that the Axion chip is not currently in use but will support future operations and services.
(Reporting by Max A. Cherney in San Francisco; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
