Alibaba-backed start-up Efinix sees big opportunities in China for its programmable AI chips
- Programmable chips can be altered and applied to different use cases – such as toys, security equipment or smartphones
As artificial intelligence (AI) edges into more areas of peoples’ daily lives, one six-year old technology start-up is looking to create programmable chips that cater to different applications of AI.
Efinix, a Santa Clara, California-based company, last year set up a new co-headquarters in Hong Kong, complete with a research and development team, to tap the booming AI technology arena in China.
Sammy Cheung, founder and chief executive of Efinix, spoke to the Post recently at Jumpstarter, a start-up event organised by the Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund, about Efinix’s technology and the AI opportunities he sees in China. Alibaba has invested in Efinix. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post.
Q: What does Efinix do and why are programmable chips important in the AI age?
A: Efinix creates programmable chips for developers and we aim to create an innovation ecosystem. A programmable chip can be altered and applied to different use cases – for example for use in a toy, security equipment or a smartphone. This is a different approach to manufacturing different chips for different purposes.