Rapidus and Tenstorrent hook up

Rapidus, which is setting up a 2nm foundry in Japan, is to develop AI edge semiconductor IP with Tenstorrent of Toronto.

Tenstorrent’s CEO Jim Keller (pictured left) has designed ICs for DEC, Harris, AMD, PA Semi, Apple, Tesla and Intel. The company has raised $334 million.

The company focusses on using RISC-V architectures for its chips. Intel Chief Architect Raja Koduri joined the company in April.

In May, the company announced a deal to make TV chips for LG. The company is also targeting data centre ICs.

“We are both unique startup companies, and I am confident that this collaboration will lead to major innovations based on AI,” says Rapidus CEO Atsuyoshi Koime (pictured right).

Rapidus started building its fab in September which is scheduled for pilot production in April 2025 and volume production in 2027.