EDACafe Industry Predictions for 2024 – Arteris

By Michal Siwinski, CMO, Arteris

Emerging Trends and Future Directions in the 2024 Technology Landscape

Michal Siwinski

As 2024 unfolds, a technological revolution is unfolding. Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), automotive, compute architecture and industrial electronics are reshaping our world. These evolving trends are pivotal in steering us toward a future with unparalleled opportunities.

The Rise of AI and NLP

The acceleration of AI, particularly at the intersection of Deep Learning (subset of Machine Learning) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) where there is a lot of Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) progress, is evident in the rapid progression from ChatGPT 3.5 to GPT-4 with the expected release of GPT-5 by early 2025. This advancement is paralleled by the remarkable engagement with ChatGPT. The current user base has expanded to over 180 million, marking an 80% increase in just eight months. This represents one of the fastest broad adoption rates of a consumer application.  Generative AI and LLMs have finally transcended academic realms, increasingly emerging as practical tools that are reshaping industries and demonstrating significant potential for innovation, whether directly or indirectly experienced by users of end applications.

 Source: Arteris, Inc

AI’s impact extends to training and inference in enterprise computing and data centers. Companies like Tenstorrent are at the forefront, harnessing AI for innovative compute solutions. The deployment of trained models for inference is crucial in applications ranging from automotive advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) to industrial robotics, disrupting traditional markets and introducing new paradigms in how we approach technology. This rapid technology development across multiple platforms signifies the transformative era of AI.

Arteris‘ technology supports the growing needs of AI, especially in areas like ADAS and Generative AI. Our network-on-chip (NoC) solutions help manage the increasing data and processing needs of ever more advanced machine learning across a broad range of applications.  As AI becomes more complex and widespread, Arteris’ solutions are helping to power the next generation of AI advancements, one system-on-chip at time.

Advanced Automotive Growth

The automotive industry is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by advancements in ADAS, which is the integration of AI with functional safety protocols, and electrification for sustainability.  These changes represent a paradigm shift in vehicle conception, design, and manufacturing, moving towards vehicles that are akin to computers on wheels. This complexity has increased the demand for powerful, efficient semiconductor chips for real-time data processing crucial for autonomous driving and other functionalities.

Original equipment manufacturers are now more involved in designing specific electronic components, like system-on-chip (SoC), a change from relying on external suppliers. This approach allows for better customization and control over vehicle performance. Additionally, advancements in electric vehicle (EV) technology, particularly in battery development, are making EVs more practical and appealing. The growing competition in the EV market, with both traditional car makers and new companies, is driving rapid improvements in vehicle efficiency, performance, and cost-effectiveness.

Arteris plays a key role in the automotive industry’s transformation. Our technology helps improve ADAS and supports the use of AI in vehicles. Arteris’ solutions are vital for designing efficient and powerful SoC components, which are crucial for the latest car technologies. This support allows car manufacturers to better customize and enhance vehicle performance, which is especially important in the evolving EV market.

Increased Compute Architecture Options

In the evolving landscape of compute architecture, available options include the X86 developed by Intel and a diverse range of Arm processor IP offerings. These Arm cores are being specifically fine-tuned to meet the distinct requirements and challenges of various compute systems with a variety of performance and power needs. This customization extends across multiple verticals, from mobile and infrastructure to the automotive industry, each demanding unique solutions tailored to their specific needs.

The growth of RISC-V instruction set architecture is also becoming more prevalent. Notably, the RISC-V adoption is not just growing in consumer devices. It’s expanding into industrial applications, data centers and other specialized areas. Joining this ecosystem is Synopsys, emerging as a key processor IP provider alongside companies such as SiFive, SemiDynamics Andes, and others.

One of the trends in 2024 will be the design of mixed SoCs, combining different architectures within a single chip or even a single die.  This approach allows for integrating various cores and technologies to optimize performance, power consumption and functionality for bespoke applications. The evolving architecture landscape is moving towards more customized solutions, enabling more effective and efficient technology applications across diverse sectors.

Arteris also plays a crucial role in the evolving world of compute architectures. Our network-on-chip (NoC) technology supports any architecture type and all major protocols along with a variety of topologies, allowing our customer to effectively connect any combination of IP blocks and turn them into efficient chips. This high-performance yet flexible on-chip integration is important for creating chips that meet the specific needs of various industries, from smartphones to cars and data centers. Arteris’ technology helps our customers create SoCs that perform better, use less power and can do many different tasks effectively all with less time and effort, facilitating the trend towards more customized and flexible technology.

Increased Reliance on Automation

In the semiconductor sector, a strategic shift towards automation is addressing the critical shortage of engineering talent and refining the complexity inherent in SoC design. This shift is evident in the streamlined processes for hardware/software interface design and the interconnectivity of IP blocks within SoCs. The deployment of advanced technologies like AI and EDA is enhancing design efficiency, establishing these integrations as fundamental in modern semiconductor design.

Arteris’ NoC technology is at the forefront of this transformation, offering innovative solutions that alleviate some of the risks our customers face due to the skilled engineer shortage while enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the design process. Our approach, which focuses on automating key aspects of SoC integration, significantly reduces iteration times. This efficiency aligns with the industry’s move towards more agile, resource-efficient, and advanced chip design methodologies, marking a critical step in the evolution of semiconductor technology.

Explosion of Semiconductor IP Blocks

The complexity of semiconductors is rapidly increasing, with the number of IP blocks growing exponentially. Where semiconductor chips once incorporated only tens of IP, more recently they featured hundreds of blocks and today they include thousands of blocks, both from internal and external sources.  The task of integrating these numerous IPs into a cohesive system presents formidable challenges. It demands cutting-edge architectural designs and creative approaches to chip design. Engineers must ensure that all components within the SoC are effectively connected while simultaneously achieving high bandwidth, low latency and low power consumption plus supporting a variety of network topologies.

Arteris provides advanced solutions for efficient integration, ensuring that all components within an SoC are effectively interconnected. Our expertise is crucial in achieving high bandwidth and low latency while maintaining low power consumption, which is essential given the diverse and increasingly complex network topologies in modern chip design. This capability positions Arteris as an essential player in overcoming the challenges posed by the rapidly evolving semiconductor landscape.

Conclusion

In 2024, the technology industry is at a crossroads, shaped by transformative trends in AI, automotive, compute architecture and industrial electronics. These advancements require a blend of technical expertise and strategic vision. Navigating through these complexities brings the promise of innovation and adaptation, marking an exciting time to be involved in the evolution of the technology industry. We have come a long way in the last 50 years from the days of Atari Pong to AI-everywhere devices all around us, and the journey ahead is filled with even more remarkable possibilities. I for one am very excited to see all the great innovations that 2024 will certainly bring.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 22nd, 2024 at 4:59 pm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.