Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Silicon Express Lanes: AI, GPUs Pave Fast Routes for Chip Designers

07/12/2021

AI can design chips no human could, said Bill Dally in a virtual keynote today at the Design Automation Conference (DAC), one of the world's largest gatherings of semiconductor engineers.

The chief scientist of NVIDIA discussed research in accelerated computing and machine learning that's making chips smaller, faster and better.

Our work shows you can achieve orders-of-magnitude improvements in chip design using GPU-accelerated systems. And when you add in AI, you can get superhuman results - better circuits than anyone could design by hand, said Dally, who leads a team of more than 200 people at NVIDIA Research.

Gains Span Circuits, Boards Dally cited improvements GPUs and AI deliver across the workflow of chip and board design. His examples spanned the layout and placement of circuits to faster ways to render images of printed-circuit boards.

In one particularly stunning example of speedups with GPUs, he pointed to research NVIDIA plans to present at a conference next year. The GATSPI tool accelerates detailed simulations of a chip's logic by more than 1,000x compared to commercial tools running on CPUs today.

GATSPI, a GPU-accelerated simulation tool, completes work in seconds that currently takes a full day running on a CPU. A paper at DAC this year describes how NVIDIA collaborated with Cadence Design Systems, a leading provider of EDA software, to render board-level designs using graphics techniques on NVIDIA GPUs. Their work boosted performance up to 20x for interactive operations on Cadence's Allegro X platform, announced in June.

Engineers used to wait for programs to respond after every edit or pan across an image - it was an awkward, frustrating way to work. But with GPUs, the flow becomes truly interactive, said Dally, who chaired Stanford University's computer science department before joining NVIDIA in 2009.

Reinforcement Learning Delivers Rewards A technique called NVCell, described in a DAC session this week, uses reinforcement learning to automate the job of laying out a standard cell, a basic building block of a chip.

The approach reduces work that typically takes months for a 10-person team to an automated process that runs in a couple days. That lets the engineering team focus on a few challenging cells that need to be designed by hand, said Dally.

In another example of the power of reinforcement learning, NVIDIA researchers will describe at DAC a new tool called PrefixRL. It discovers how to design a circuit such as an adder, encoder or custom design.

PrefixRL treats the design process like a game where the high score is in finding the smallest area and power consumption for the circuit.

By letting AI optimize the process, engineers get a device that's more efficient than what's possible with today's tools. It's a good example of how AI can deliver designs no human could.

Leveraging AI's Tool Box NVIDIA worked with the University of Texas at Austin on a research project called DREAMPlace that made novel use of PyTorch, a popular software framework for deep learning. It adapted the framework used to optimize weights in a neural network to find the best spot to place a block with 10 million cells inside a larger chip.

It's a routine job that currently takes nearly four hours using today's state-of-the-art techniques on CPUs. Running on NVIDIA Volta architecture GPUs in a data center or cloud service, it can finish in as little as five minutes, a 43x speedup.

Getting a Clearer Image Faster To make a chip, engineers use a lithography machine to project their design onto a semiconductor wafer. To make sure the chip performs as expected, they must accurately simulate that image, a critical challenge.

NVIDIA researchers created a neural network that understands the optical process. It simulated the image on the wafer 80x faster and with higher accuracy, using a 20x smaller model than current state-of-the-art machine learning methods.

It's one more example of how the combination of accelerated computing and AI are helping engineers design better chips faster.

An AI-Powered Future NVIDIA used some of these techniques to make our existing GPUs, and we plan to use more of them in the future, Dally said.

I expect tomorrow's standard EDA tools will be AI-powered to make the chip designer's job easier and their results better than ever, he said.

To watch Dally's keynote, register for a complimentary pass to DAC using the code ILOVEDAC, then view the talk here.
LINK: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/2021/12/07/ai-acceleration-dally-dac/...
See more stories from nvidia

North America Stories

06/05/2026

FCC's Anna Gomez Urges Rigorous Review of Paramount-WBD Merger

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

06/05/2026

Riedel Ups Marc Engroff to CFO, Shifts Frank Eischet to Group COO

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

06/05/2026

Amagi Launches In-Content Ads' to Attract More CTV Advertisers

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

06/05/2026

Riedel Expands Leadership Structure Appoints Marc Engroff...

Riedel Communications today announced the expansion of its leadership structure as part of a strategic initiative to strengthen both its operational management ...

06/05/2026

Production Sound Mixer Dirk Sciarrotta Delivers Camera Re...

For nearly three decades, Veteran Production Sound Mixer and Five-time Emmy Award Winner Dirk Sciarrotta has helped define the sonic identity of the long-runnin...

06/05/2026

ZEISS CinCraft LensCore: Cinema Lens Looks for Compositing

ZEISS CinCraft LensCore: Cinema Lens Looks for Compositing Brie Clayton May 6, 2026 0 Comments ZEISS announces the launch of CinCraft LensCore, a nove...

06/05/2026

Wisycom Solves Extreme RF Challenges Across Miles of Live Action for Gravity Media

Wisycom Solves Extreme RF Challenges Across Miles of Live Action for Gravity Med...

06/05/2026

NAB Launches Weekly Podcast on Local Broadcast Policy

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

06/05/2026

Mavis Launches Mavis Studio iPad For Media Production

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

06/05/2026

Narrative Entertainment partners with Encompass to provid...

Narrative Entertainment has partnered with Encompass to deliver high-quality subtitling of its Great! network content using the Altitude Intelligence AI assiste...

06/05/2026

SipRadius extends its seamless creation and connectivity...

SipRadius, widely recognized for making content processing and connectivity secure and seamless, is proud to launch a dramatic new approach to AI content creati...

06/05/2026

Big Blue Marble at ANGA COM - TV as a Service in the spot...

When the broadband and media industry gathers at ANGA COM in Cologne from May 19 to 21, Big Blue Marble will be at the forefront. The international broadcast an...

06/05/2026

Cinegy makes its MPTS debut with software-defined televis...

Cinegy GmbH, a leading developer of software-defined television technology, is proud to exhibit at MPTS for the first time. Visitors to the stand will discover ...

06/05/2026

Val Jeanty Receives 2026 Doris Duke Artist Award

Val Jeanty Receives 2026 Doris Duke Artist Award Jeanty, a composer, percussionist, and turntablist, is the fourth Berklee recipient of the prestigious award ...

06/05/2026

Zeiss Launches CinCraft LensCore

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

06/05/2026

Gomez Urges Rigorous FCC Review of Paramount-WBD Merger

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

06/05/2026

Wisycom Solves Extreme RF Challenges Across Miles of Live...

When live cycling races and international marathons stretch for miles across cities and countryside, there is no margin for RF failure in live broadcast. As Chi...

06/05/2026

ZEISS CinCraft LensCore - Cinema Lens Looks for Compositi...

Oberkochen/Germany, May 5, 2026 ZEISS announces the launch of CinCraft LensCore, a novel solution for creating physically based cinematic lens looks for visual...

06/05/2026

NVIDIA Spectrum-X - the Open, AI-Native Ethernet Fabric - Sets the Standard for Gigascale AI, Now With MRC

The race to build the world's most powerful AI factories demands networking ...

06/05/2026

May 05, 2026

How changes to proteins can alter drug interactions for new precision therapies Scripps Research team maps how chemical modifications to proteins affect drug bi...

05/05/2026

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Phone Cameras Bring New Excitement to Street League Skateboarding

Three phones were hardwired for power and transmission to the truck; camera feat...

05/05/2026

Case Study: How Zaki Rose Rebuilt Its Production Infrastructure, and What It Means for Sports Content Creators

The creative studio behind campaigns for the NBA, Fanatics Sportsbook & Casino, ...

05/05/2026

Nielsen Co-Viewing Pilot Shows Average 4% Viewership Increase for February Live Events

Nielsen has announced results from a co-viewing pilot program covering February&...

05/05/2026

Nippon TV and FOR-A Win NAB Product of the Year and Future Best of Show Awards for viztrick AiDi

viztrick AiDi, an on-device AI solution developed by Nippon TV, delivered global...

05/05/2026

ARRI Introduces Omnibar LED Linear Fixture for Film, Live Entertainment, and Content Creation

ARRI has announced Omnibar, a battery-powered, IP65-rated multi-color LED linear...

05/05/2026

France Tlvisions Becomes First Broadcaster to Deploy Imagine Communications SNP-XS

Imagine Communications has announced that France T l visions is the first broadc...

05/05/2026

WNBA Announces Historic Canadian Media Rights Agreement with Bell Media

The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and Bell Media today announced a multiyear agreement to broadcast and stream WNBA games in Canada beginni...

05/05/2026

Save the Date: SVG Remote Production Forum Heads to WBD's Techwood Studios in Atlanta on Sept. 23-24

SVG is proud to announce Warner Bros. Discovery's Techwood Studios in Atlant...

05/05/2026

Look Who's Talking: ESPN Integrates New Automated Commentator-ID Technology Into Scorebar Graphic for UFL Coverage

With no operator required, AutoMic workflow automates talent identification on U...

05/05/2026

Return Flight: How Live Broadcast Drones Died - and Were Reborn - on the Ski Slopes of Northern Italy

A crash in 2015 set the industry back, but this winter proved that drones are he...

05/05/2026

L3Harris Provides Key Technologies for Newly Commissioned Navy Submarines

L3Harris provides communications, electronic warfare, sensors and mission systems that enable Virginia-class submarine crews to operate with confidence in conte...

05/05/2026

Gray Media Closes Purchase of 10 Allen Media Group Stations

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

05/05/2026

Dang Ly Joins Operative as Chief Product Officer

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

05/05/2026

CIMM, TVB Release Local TV Currency Measurement Guidelines

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

05/05/2026

ARRI Introduces Omnibar LED Linear Fixture

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

05/05/2026

France Televisions Continues ST 2110 Migration With Imagi...

Project Marks First Major Broadcast Deployment of Latest Addition to SNP Lineup Imagine Communications today announced that France T l visions is the first br...

05/05/2026

Shotoku Broadcast Systems Wins 2026 NAB Show Product of t...

Shotoku Broadcast Systems Wins 2026 NAB Show Product of the Year Award Shotoku Broadcast Systems announced today that its Swoop range of robotic cranes has be...

05/05/2026

DigitalGlues creativespace Intelligence Wins Futures Best...

DigitalGlue's creative.space Intelligence Wins Future's Best of Show Award, Presented by TV Tech creative.space Intelligence (CSI), part of the creativ...

05/05/2026

Zixi Showcases Next-Generation Live Video Workflows and M...

Zixi, a leader in live video delivery and workflow orchestration, will showcase next-generation broadcast workflows at the Media Production and Technology Show ...

05/05/2026

Stingr marks its launch with a new approach to second-screen interactivity

Stingr marks its launch with a new approach to second-screen interactivity Brie Clayton May 5, 2026 0 Comments Huge leap forward in revenues and engag...

05/05/2026

Shotoku Broadcast Systems Wins 2026 NAB Show Product of the Year Award

Shotoku Broadcast Systems Wins 2026 NAB Show Product of the Year Award Brie Clayton May 5, 2026 0 Comments Shotoku Broadcast Systems announced today tha...

05/05/2026

DHD to Promote Latest Advances in Audio Production at MPT...

Following a successful NAB Show in Las Vegas, DHD will promote examples from its wide range of broadcast-quality audio production equipment at the May 13th-14th...

05/05/2026

LucidLink Redefines Cloud Media Workflows at MPTS 2026

LucidLink today announced its programme for MPTS 2026, where it will exhibit at Stand M59 at Olympia London, 13 to 14 May. The company will showcase its latest ...

05/05/2026

Limecraft Announces Version 2026-3 of its Cloud-Based Tel...

Limecraft today announces the release of Limecraft 2026.3, the third platform update in its 2026 release cycle. Limecraft is an AI-powered production platform t...

05/05/2026

Stingr marks its launch with a new approach to second-scr...

Huge leap forward in revenues and engagement...

05/05/2026

Broadcast Solutions strengthens CTO Office for technical...

Broadcast Solutions, a leading system integrator and provider of innovative solutions for the broadcast media industry, has taken another significant step in st...

05/05/2026

Operative Appoints Dang Ly as Chief Product Officer to Ac...

Operative today announced the appointment of Dang Ly as Chief Product Officer, signaling the company's accelerating commitment to delivering the next genera...

05/05/2026

World Skills Cafe Returns to IBC2026

The Media Talent Manifesto (MTM) today announces the return of the World Skills Caf at IBC2026, positioning the event as a critical industry forum to confront ...

05/05/2026

ARRI unveils Omnibar: compact, modular, battery-powered IP65 LED bars with precise pixel control

ARRI unveils Omnibar: compact, modular, battery-powered IP65 LED bars with preci...

05/05/2026

NBC Sports' NBA Playoff Viewership Up 58%

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...