Chinese AI chipmaker Hygon plots expansion from data centres to robotics
Chinese chipmaker Hygon Information Technology is set to release a new chip targeting physical-world applications including robotics, expanding from its current focus on data centres, according to Chinese media reports and company information. The product launch, slated for Tuesday, marks Hygon’s move into a new chip category powering machines that interact directly with their environments, as…
Chinese AI chipmaker Hygon Information Technology is preparing to launch a new chip that will target physical-world applications such as robotics, expanding beyond its current focus on data centres, according to reports from Chinese media outlets and the company. The product release, set for Tuesday, signifies Hygon's move into a novel chip category that powers machines interacting directly with their surroundings, as physical artificial intelligence grows in importance.
The new chip, an upgrade to the company's CPU1000 series, is engineered to satisfy "low-power, embedded, and edge computing needs," aiming at various physical AI applications in fields such as robotics, machine vision, and intelligent manufacturing, as per statements from business news outlet Jiemian News and state-backed China Securities Journal on Sunday.
The company unveiled the launch event, which will take place in the southern tech center of Shenzhen, under the slogan, "Let computing power reach the physical world," as per a post on the company's official WeChat account on Sunday, though no additional details were provided. Hygon's expansion aligns with a wider industry trend where computing demand is increasingly shifting away from centralized data centres towards the "edge" of networks at active physical industry locations.
Unlike data centre chips, which prioritize maximum computational output, chips utilized in robotics and edge applications must fulfill rigorous requirements for real-time processing, power constraints, and robust security in unpredictable environments. Hygon, which specializes in designing central processing units (CPUs) and deep computing units - accelerator cards specifically tailored for AI - is playing an increasingly crucial role in Beijing's broader mission for semiconductor self-sufficiency.
Its current CPU lineups comprise the 7000 series for high-performance data centres, the 5000 series for "middle-level" industry clients in cloud and edge computing, and the cost-efficient 3000 series. The Shanghai-listed chipmaker is among the country's leading developers of x86-compatible CPUs, which are still the foundation for most server, desktop, and laptop computers.
Hygon's first-half revenue grew 66.5 percent year-over-year to 9.1 billion yuan (US$1.4 billion) due to robust demand for high-end domestic chips.
Written by urgent.news from SCMP Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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