Microchip buys Neuronix AI Labs to boost neural network capabilities

Microchip Technology, a global provider of smart, connected, and secure embedded control solutions, led by India-born technology veteran Ganesh Moorthy, announced on Tuesday that it has acquired US-based Neuronix AI Labs, developer of artificial intelligence-based computer vision acceleration solutions. The move is intended to expand Microchip’s capabilities in power-efficient, AI-enabled edge solutions deployed on field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).
 
Neuronix AI Labs, known for its advanced neural network and learning algorithms, will bring a fresh array of expertise to Microchip’s offerings. With this move, Microchip will deliver a new standard in AI-powered devices, enhancing everything from consumer gadgets to complex industrial systems. This development signals a potential surge in performance and efficiency for Microchip’s diverse range of products, including microcontrollers, analog devices, and all-in-one mixed-signal solutions.
 
Microchip’s mid-range PolarFire FPGAs and SoCs already deliver low power consumption, reliability, and security capabilities, but this acquisition will enable Microchip to develop cost-effective, large-scale edge deployments of components designed for use in computer-vision applications on systems that have cost, size, and power constraints. It will also enable a multifold increase in AI/ML processing horsepower on low and mid-range FPGAs.
 
“The acquisition will enhance our power efficiency for FPGAs and SoCs deployed in intelligent edge systems that utilize AI/ML algorithms,” said Bruce Weyer, corporate vice president of Microchip’s FPGA business unit. “Neuronix technology combined with our VectorBlox design flow produces an increase in neural network performance efficiency and delivers outstanding GOPS/watt performance in our low-power PolarFire FPGAs and SoCs. Systems designers will now be able to architect and deploy small-footprint hardware that was previously difficult to build due to size, thermal or power constraints.”
 
The acquisition of this technology will allow non-FPGA designers to use powerful parallel processing capabilities by employing industry-standard AI frameworks without requiring in-depth knowledge of FPGA design flow.

The combination of Neuronix AI intellectual property and Microchip’s existing compilers and software design kits allows for AI/ML algorithms to be implemented on customizable FPGA logic without a need for resistor-transition level (RTL) expertise or intimate knowledge of the underlying FPGA fabric. It is also designed to allow for updating and upgrading CNNs on the fly without needing to reprogram hardware, the company said.
 
“Neuronix AI Labs has been laser-focused on producing best-in-class neural network acceleration architectures and algorithms that can transform user expectations of size, power, performance, and cost,” said Yaron Raz, CEO of Neuronix AI Labs. “Joining the Microchip team offers us a unique opportunity to scale and align with an FPGA portfolio that has set industry standards for power efficiency.”
 
Experts believe the rise of AI is pushing beyond chatbots to drive rapid growth in meaningful sub-sectors such as AI semiconductors and enterprise AI applications in defense and financial services. For example, Indian AI startups raised a funding of $560 million across 25 funding rounds. Of the other notable acquisitions, GoKwik has acquired Tellephant enabling the company to launch its third product KwikChat on WhatsApp, catering to multiple use cases across the e-commerce funnel. Lenskart has acquired Tango Eye, an AI-based computer vision startup. With this acquisition, Lenskart plans to use visual AI technology to improve store experience as well as its product experience.