Intel Reveals One AI Chip To Rule Them All, Collaborates With Facebook For Domination

Intel recently revealed a new artificial intelligence processing chip called the Nervana Neural Processor (NNP), which is intended to help the company corner the AI market. In an effort to do so, the chip maker is also partnering with Facebook, another company that wants to put its finger in every pie. The two giants basically collaborated to rule the future AI industry.

In a statement to Fortune, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich revealed that its new AI chips were created with the help of the technical know-how of Facebook’s team. As a result, the chips are set to ship at the end of 2017, which should bolster the AI ambitions of any company intent on investing in the rising trend.

“We are thrilled to have Facebook in close collaboration sharing its technical insights as we bring this new generation of AI hardware to market,” the statement reads.

It’s worth pointing out that there is no formal partnership between the companies as far as the development of the AI chip is concerned. However, the simple fact that technical help and expertise was provided by either side hints at a possible proper partnership between Intel and Facebook.

As to what makes the NPP chips so relevant, they are basically built for the specific purpose of developing and managing AI, Engadget reports. Most processors available in the market simply do not have the computing capacity that is required for machine learning and mass data analytics involving in the development of AI technology.

By focusing the chip’s specialty in deep-learning functionality, the processors are able to devote their full resources into a very specific application. This puts Intel on a closer level of playing field to its closest rival, Nvidia, which has become the processor of choice due to how its GPUs accidentally became more suited to AI development.