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Published: September 21, 2017 | Source: CNBC | Author: Mark Campbell

Tesla is reportedly working with AMD to create a custom chip for their self-driving cars

Tesla is reportedly working with AMD to create a custom chip for their self-driving cars

Tesla is reportedly working with AMD to create a custom chip for their self-driving cars

 
Last nights reports from CNBC have sent AMD’s stock prices into an upward trend, increasing their stock prices by around 5%. This is due to a report that AMD is working with Tesla on a semi-custom chip design for their self-driving cars, which was said to have been confirmed by Globalfoundries. 
 
The problem here is that CNBC misquoted Sanjay Jha, Globalfoundries’ CEO, stating that the company is working directly with Tesla and then alleged that that means that they are working with AMD. Sadly this is not the case. Below is the actual quote from Jha, as recorded by Tom’s Hardware. 
 

As we develop these new technologies, we are also seeing a big shift in the business model and the foundry business. What is happening is that system companies like Google, like Amazon, like Tesla, like Microsoft, are coming directly to foundries. They are working directly with IP companies and system development companies because they want to control the hardware and software.

 

Reading this quote it is clear that Globalfoundries has not explicitly said that they are working with Tesla, making CNBC’s further points regarding AMD rather moot. It is true that AMD’s former Cheif Architect, Jim Keller is currently heading Tesla’s custom chip efforts, though that does not mean that Tesla is working with AMD on their custom chip designs.    

Both Tesla and AMD have not commented on these rumours, though it is also worth noting that even if Tesla were working with AMD that Globalfoundries would not necessarily be involved, with both Sony and Microsoft basing their semi-custom PS4 Pro and Xbox One X consoles chip designs on 16nm, a TSMC Foundry product.    

 

Tesla is reportedly working with AMD to create a custom chip for their self-driving cars  

Tesla wants to remove their reliance on Nvidia for compute technology, with plans to become one of the market leaders in GPU/AI tech for the automotive industry. At this time there is no real indication that Tesla will be relying on AMD to accelerate the development of this technology. 

 

You can join the discussion on Tesla reportedly working on a semi-custom chip with AMD on the OC3D Forums. 

 

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