Rapidus to collaborate with Esperanto on AI ICs

Rapidus, the Japan government-backed startup focussed on 2nm process technology, is to collaborate with RISC-V specialist Esperanto Technologies on developing AI chips.

Esperanto develops  chip designs for AI/machine learning based on RISC-V. It is headed up by Dave Ditzel (pictured) who was the founder and CEO of the x86 clone startup Transmeta.

Rapidus also has a RISC-V-based chip development agreement with Tenstorrent.

Last September, Rapidus began construction of IIM (Innovative Integration for Manufacturing) in Chitose City, Hokkaido. This will be Japan’s first fab for the production of 2nm ICs.

The  company plans to start operation of a pilot production line at IIM-1 in April 2025, and begin mass production in 2027.

Rapidus has been dispatching researchers to the Albany Nanotech Complex in New York  to work with IBM to develop technologies for the production of 2nm logic semiconductors.

“As we enter the age of full-fledged AI, it is imperative to design and manufacture semiconductors with superior energy-saving performance, and we believe that this collaboration with Esperanto is a major step toward solving this issue,” says Rapidus CEO Atsuyoshi Koike.