NVIDIA Intensifies Efforts on “Custom Chip” Production, Seeks Top Taiwanese Talent

NVIDIA is reportedly making strides toward the “custom chip” manufacturing arena, a move highlighted by the recruitment of several engineers from Taiwan that appears aimed at bolstering this segment.

There’s been quite a buzz over NVIDIA embarking on the journey of developing customized chips, known as ASICs. With tech giants racing to build their own AI computing power to suit their unique requirements, this isn’t entirely surprising. NVIDIA is known for creating open-architecture AI products like the Blackwell and Hopper series. However, when it comes to crafting tailored solutions for their clients, they’re still exploring those waters. According to ChinaTimes, NVIDIA’s new R&D center in Taiwan will be a hub for developing ASIC solutions, with the company actively recruiting local engineering talent en masse.

The report points out that NVIDIA has its sights set on establishing ASIC production lines down the road, though their current priority seems to be strengthening their workforce. Team Green, as they’re often called, has ramped up their hiring efforts and is keen on attracting top Taiwanese talent before these skilled professionals are snapped up by other firms. The competition for leading engineers is fierce, especially with major IC design companies like MediaTek also in the hunt, prompting NVIDIA to aggressively pursue local experts.

Companies such as Google, Amazon, and Apple are also diving into the custom AI chips race, seeking to lessen their dependence on NVIDIA and develop solutions fine-tuned for their specific workloads. This trend has seemingly nudged NVIDIA to pivot toward the custom chip segment. Given NVIDIA’s solid reputation among Taiwan’s ASIC manufacturers, they are well-positioned to gain significant traction in this niche market.

Rumor has it that NVIDIA is also venturing into custom chip development for the AI PC sector, possibly even teaming up with MediaTek. This suggests that their focus extends beyond just the AI domain. Their experience with chips like the Tegra SoC, used in the Nintendo Switch, provides them with a solid foundation. The push toward custom AI chips could be transformative for the computing industry, offering NVIDIA a way to retain their edge against competitors trying to develop their own in-house solutions.