SoftBank and Intel Collaborate to Develop Energy-Efficient AI Chip, Halving Power Consumption

SoftBank and Intel have joined forces to develop a new AI-specific memory chip that aims to significantly reduce power consumption, thereby enhancing the efficiency of Japan's AI infrastructure. According to Nikkei Asia, their goal is to design a novel stackable DRAM chip that uses an innovative wiring method, distinct from the popular high-bandwidth memory (HBM) currently on the market. This approach is expected to cut power consumption by approximately 50%. The development effort is spearheaded by a newly established company called Saimemory, which will focus on chip design and patent management. The actual manufacturing of the chips will be outsourced to specialized foundries. Saimemory plans to complete the prototype within the next two years and then assess its viability for mass production. The project's commercialization target is set for the 2020s, with an estimated total investment of 100 billion yen (approximately 5 billion yuan). In this partnership, SoftBank is the primary investor, contributing 30 billion yen (about 1.5 billion yuan). Other potential collaborators, including the RIKEN Institute and Shimazu Seiki, are considering joining the project through financial or technical contributions. Furthermore, the team intends to seek government support to accelerate the development of this cutting-edge storage technology. SoftBank envisions that the new memory chip will be widely adopted in its AI training data centers. As AI technologies continue to penetrate advanced fields such as enterprise management, the demand for high-performance and efficient data processing capabilities is on the rise. The novel chip promises to lower operational costs and facilitate the construction of high-quality data centers, thus meeting the growing market needs. This advancement represents a significant opportunity for the AI industry and contributes to the broader goals of energy conservation and environmental protection. Given the rapid evolution of AI, the collaboration between SoftBank and Intel could have far-reaching implications for the entire tech sector. Key Points: - SoftBank and Intel are developing a new AI memory chip to reduce power consumption by about 50%. - The chip features a unique stackable DRAM design that differs from existing high-bandwidth memory (HBM). - The project is estimated to cost 100 billion yen, with SoftBank as the main investor. - Commercialization is targeted for the 2020s, potentially transforming the AI and tech industries.