ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has teamed up with US-based Broadcom to develop a custom 5-nanometer artificial intelligence processor to ensure a stable supply of high-end chips. This move comes as ByteDance expands its presence in generative AI, with the launch of various AI products like chatbots and app development platforms. The company’s AI-driven content recommendation system has been highly successful, particularly on TikTok and other apps.
The decision to develop their own chips comes in the wake of US export controls on advanced semiconductors. By partnering with Broadcom, ByteDance aims to reduce procurement costs and secure a supply of high-end chips for their AI projects. This partnership also allows them to sidestep restrictions on Nvidia chipsets, which were previously out of reach due to export controls.
ByteDance and Broadcom have a history of collaboration, with ByteDance previously purchasing Broadcom’s high-performance switch chips and AI computer clusters. The development of AI chips is crucial for ByteDance to enhance the power of their algorithms, particularly for apps like TikTok and Douyin.
In addition to purchasing chips from Nvidia and Huawei, ByteDance is now working on developing its own custom AI processor to meet the demands of their rapidly expanding AI projects. The company is also hiring semiconductor-related professionals, including ASIC chip designers, to further bolster their capabilities in this area.
Overall, ByteDance’s partnership with Broadcom for the development of advanced AI chips underscores the company’s commitment to innovation and growth in the AI space. This strategic move not only helps them navigate export restrictions on US chips but also positions them as a major player in the AI technology sector.
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https://www.telecomlead.com/semiconductor/bytedance-starts-working-with-broadcom-to-develop-ai-chips-116627