S.Korean AI chip developer DeepX ready to take on Nvidia: CEO

Demand for artificial intelligence microprocessors is set to grow astronomically as electronics and cars are becoming smarter, said DeepX chief, adding that South Korea’s homegrown neural network and AI chip developer is confident DeepX can stand on par with or even beat global top AI chip designers like Nvidia Corp. in next-generation AI chip technology.

“According to our client’s own test, DeepX semiconductors demonstrated 10 times better performance than Nvidia’s graphics processing units (GPUs) while consuming nine times less power despite our products’ much lower price tags, one-tenth that of Nvidia’s GPUs,” DeepX Chief Executive Officer Kim Nok-won said during an interview with The Korea Economic Daily on Wednesday.

Nvidia is inarguably the global leader in AI chip technology as its AI products powered by its unrivaled GPU technology make the AI workload much quicker than its rivals’ processors.

Founded by Kim in 2018, Korea-based AI chip designer DeepX specializes in application-specific AI semiconductors, or AI chips for edge devices.

It is a latecomer in the AI chip market but has already developed deep-learning powered AI chips DX-L1, DX-L2, DX-M1 and DX-H1, which can be used in different devices based on specific functions, such as object recognition, face recognition, voice recognition, image sorting and image improvement.

Using its advanced neural processing unit (NPU) technology, DeepX is currently working with Hyundai Motor Group and POSCO Holdings Inc. on separate projects to develop image sensor AI chips for Hyundai Motor’s robots and camera module AI chips for about 20,000 CCTVs deployed at POSCO's plants across the nation.  

AI CHIPS TO USHER IN NEW WORLD  

AI chips are a new generation of microprocessors created primarily to handle tasks requiring AI technology more quickly and efficiently. Global demand for AI chips is expected to grow significantly as electronics and cars will become more intelligent and autonomous.

DeepX develops AI chips for edge devices like smartphones, tablets and equipment at the edges of networks or those used outside data centers.

Powered by AI, especially machine learning or deep learning, edge computing can significantly improve data processing speed and meet diverse specific needs compared with cloud computing.

“Driven by the fast penetration of AI, AI chips will be required in every electronic device,” said Kim.

This projection made Kim leave Apple Inc., where he developed mobile application processors for the iPhone X series with his co-engineers, to start his own business to develop next-generation microprocessors that can handle massive data generated by smart devices in line with the development of Internet of Things (IoT) technology.

“The number of electronic devices worldwide surged to more than 50 billion in 2020 from 5 billion in 2010,” said Kim. “In the early stages of the internet era, it was possible for humans to process data generated from devices, but the amount of data is now too immense to process even with all the people on our planet involved.”

“Demand for AI chips is so high that we have recently received orders to design micro image sensor AI silicon chips for face recognition,” added Kim.

DeepX currently focuses on AI chips for camera modules in anticipation of higher demand for them, considering that annual global shipments of image sensors are estimated at 6.5 billion.

GLOBAL DEBUT PREPARATION

The Korean AI chip designer is readying to go global this year starting with the US.

DeepX will participate in the 2023 Embedded Vision Summit, the world’s biggest conference for computer vision technology and edge AI technology companies, taking place between May 22 and 24 in Santa Clara, California, Kim said, adding that DeepX will have the biggest booth among Korean companies at the exhibition.

It will also join the IFA Berlin 2023 in September and the CES 2024 in Las Vegas in January next year to present its AI chips.

It also plans to join hands with Coasia Microelectronics Corp., a partner of Samsung Electronics Co., to promote its products in China and Southeast Asia, Kim added.

Write to Joo-Wan Kim at kjwan@hankyung.com

Sookyung Seo edited this article.