Ricursive Intelligence founders Anna Goldie and Azalia Mirhoseini believe more efficient AI chip design could help solve the compute crisis. The founders took the stage at TechCrunch Disrupt on Wednesday to detail how their startup is developing AI that can design chips, learn from each iteration, and improve subsequent designs, all with the goal of automating and accelerating the chip design process. We think that we need to help by making chips that are more efficient, that use the bandwidth in those data centers more efficiently, that use the wafers and fabs more efficiently, because even if we make [data centers] in space or something, I don’t know, you won’t see the sun anymore.” While some may be scared by the thought of AI designing its own chips, Goldie argues that letting AI handle chip design will allow humans can focus on developing applications and exploring new possibilities that can expand what they can accomplish with computing.
And that’s something that recursive does for chip design.” The founders say AI is challenging traditional chip design methods by discovering unconventional layouts that can outperform traditional ones. For example, AlphaChip, the AI system the founders previously developed, produced a circular, “donut-shaped” arrangement of chip components that initially surprised engineers but ultimately proved to be successful. They explained that they are optimizing entire chips rather than following the traditional approach of partitioning them into dozens of smaller blocks.
This approach allows AI to create intricate patterns, including wave-like designs, which the pair said they plan to share more about in the future. The founders also argued that AI-designed chips will make it possible to create all sorts of chips that might not have been possible before.
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