AI Update: Crispy Chips

Welcome to the newest edition of ID Tech’s AI update. Here’s the latest big news on the shifting landscape of AI and identity technology:

Huawei plans to start mass production of its latest AI chip in the first quarter of 2025. Its “Ascend 910C” chip is meant to help the China-based firm rival the likes of Nvidia, and is being made by Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC). US sanctions have prevented SMIC from importing the kind of advanced lithography equipment needed to really ramp up production, but Huawei is reportedly leaning on Taiwan-based TSMC for a bit of production help, as well.

Nvidia’s sophisticated new Blackwell chips are too hot to handle—literally. They are reportedly overheating when running in high-density server rack environments, causing worry among some customers. The firm is asking its suppliers to change the design of its server racks, and the problem has pushed back deliveries of the new chips to early 2025.

Nevertheless, the firm’s revenue has nearly doubled, year-over-year, in its Q3 report. Nvidia has reported revenues of $35.1 billion, up 94 percent, with its data center revenue in particular up 112 percent year-over-year. CEO Jensen Huang says the “age of AI is in full steam, propelling a global shift to Nvidia computing.”

Amazon has invested another $4 billion in Anthropic, bringing its total investment in the AI startup to $8 billion. In return, Anthropic is making Amazon Web Services its main AI model training platform, and will use its AWS Trainium chips.

The United Kingdom’s antitrust regulator says it won’t move forward with an in-depth investigation into Google’s $2 billion investment in Anthropic. News surfaced last month that the Competition and Markets Authority had been looking into antitrust issues in the business relationship, but it has now determined that Google hasn’t attained a material influence over the firm, among other considerations.

The current lame duck session of Congress may consider a package of AI regulations being championed by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. The package may include bills that would set up a National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) and an AI Safety Institute within the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Meanwhile, the incoming Trump Administration is considering rescinding the outgoing Biden Administration’s AI policy, which was established via executive order.

The chatbot’s take: We actually think this is a pretty good bit.

–

November 22, 2024 – by Alex Perala