AMD and Arm have recently announced a strategic collaboration to create a new family of AI chips that revolutionize the industry by integrating preprocessing, inference, and postprocessing on a single silicon chip. This innovative approach aims to optimize performance and streamline processes for consumers seeking advanced embedded AI solutions. However, while the excitement around these new products continues to grow, consumers will need to exercise patience as the availability of these cutting-edge chips is expected to be more than a year away.
AMD’s New Adaptive SoCs
AMD is set to unveil two groundbreaking adaptive SoCs under the names Versal AI Edge Series Gen 2 and Versal Prime Series Gen 2. These chips are designed to cater to a wide range of applications, from AI-driven embedded systems to traditional embedded systems, providing enhanced performance and efficiency. The integration of high-performing components, including Arm CPUs and next-generation AI Engines, enables these SoCs to excel in handling all AI phases effectively.
To optimize processes and achieve maximum performance, AMD has engineered a single-chip heterogeneous processing solution that addresses the challenges associated with multi-chip solutions. This innovative approach eliminates overheads and ensures that the hardware architecture is fully optimized for preprocessing, AI inference, and postprocessing tasks.
Advanced Features and Applications
The Versal AI Edge Series Gen 2 adaptive SoCs boast a range of advanced features, making them ideal for various embedded markets with specific demands for safety, security, and reliability. These chips can be utilized in diverse applications such as autonomous driving, industrial PCs, autonomous robots, and healthcare imaging technologies like ultrasound and endoscopy. The integration of up to 8x Arm Cortex-A78AE application processors and support for various interface standards further enhances the versatility and performance of these devices.
AMD’s commitment to ensuring safety and reliability is evident through the compliance of these SoCs with stringent operating requirements, including ASIL D / SIL 3 standards. Additionally, the devices offer significant improvements in performance metrics, such as TOPS/watt for AI inference and scalar compute power for postprocessing tasks, making them a compelling choice for developers and manufacturers.
Eagerly Anticipated Launch
Salil Raje, senior vice president of AMD’s Adaptive and Embedded Computing Group, emphasized the growing demand for AI-enabled embedded applications and the importance of providing efficient solutions that meet the diverse requirements of embedded systems. With over 40 years of expertise in adaptive computing, AMD is well-positioned to deliver high-performance solutions that cater to a broad spectrum of applications.
The first silicon samples of Versal Series Gen 2 are anticipated to be available at the beginning of next year, with production slated for late 2025. In the meantime, early access documentation and evaluation kits for these innovative chips are already accessible, offering a glimpse into the future of embedded AI technologies.
