Facebook looks to be in the early stages of developing its own silicon to power its devices and servers, according to a new report from Bloomberg.
The company is looking to hire a manager tasked with assembling an “end-to-end SoC / ASIC, firmware, and driver development organization.”
So the plan is only coming together, but Facebook’s interest in becoming more self-reliant — and less dependent on outside companies like Qualcomm — makes it the latest tech giant to start down this path.
Apple already has self-branded chips inside its iOS devices and is reportedly planning to replace the Intel processors in Mac computers with its own.
Google produces custom AI chips and included its first consumer-focused silicon (an image processor) in the Pixel 2 last year. It’s likely that the company has much bigger ambitions as part of its hardware rivalry with Apple. Amazon is said to be developing chips to improve Alexa’s AI smarts.
Facebook’s job listings are under the category of infrastructure, so it’s very probable that the chip team will be putting its efforts toward the company’s artificial intelligence servers.
Right now the servers, which train Facebook’s AI systems, are Nvidia-powered. Mark Zuckerberg has said that AI will eventually play an even bigger role in flagging inappropriate content across the social network than it does currently, though it’s really not a viable solution for the company’s deeper issues.
But Facebook could also power smart speakers or future Oculus virtual reality headsets with its own chips. That would allow the company to make the kind of improvements and optimizations that are only possible when hardware and software are tightly integrated throughout the entire development process.
Of course, people still accuse Facebook of spying on them despite hard evidence to the contrary, so there might be a bit of a trust problem if the company starts putting its own silicon into consumer gadgets.
Latest Stories
-
Ghana nominates Matthew Kwesi Crenstil for UN High Commissioner for Refugees role
28 seconds -
Transforming public health: Franklin Adjei’s leadership in addressing environmental health risks worldwide
17 minutes -
Part of Roman Ridge Roundabout flooded after heavy downpour
19 minutes -
12 remanded for alleged destruction of Takoradi–Nsuta Railway Line
32 minutes -
New study calls for policy reforms to make Africa, Ghana a global hub for investment vehicles
37 minutes -
QNET celebrates 27 years, showcasing economic impact and announces landmark Ghana convention
40 minutes -
Adhere to domestic regulatory provisions – BoG to banks
45 minutes -
Global funding shortfall threatens refugee protection – Interior Minister warns
46 minutes -
GFA urged to include more local players in Black Stars squad to benefit from FIFA’s $355m World Cup fund
47 minutes -
Kwabena Kwabena chooses Stonebwoy and Kofi Kinaata for ‘Asor’ Remix
51 minutes -
Wontumi pleads not guilty to all 7 charges in fresh illegal mining case, granted GH₵10m bail
53 minutes -
Gov’t to launch GRASP to empower refugees through agribusiness
1 hour -
Clean Energy Challenge: Dabokpa Technical Institute students build solar baby incubator, place 4th nationally
1 hour -
Renewable Energy Challenge: Damongo SHS secures sixth spot in Grand Finale
1 hour -
BoG begins FX sales under Domestic Gold Purchase Programme in October
2 hours