Finnish startup Flow Computing says it has developed a chip that can potentially double CPU performance and increase it up to 100 times with further software optimization. TechCrunch described “as one of the wildest claims ever heard in silicon engineering.”
This advancement, if adopted, could significantly impact the computing needs of artificial intelligence technologies and autonomous vehicle systems.
Originating at the VTT Technical Research Center in Finland, Flow Computing has introduced what it calls Parallel Processing Unit (PPU). Despite skepticism about the bold claims, Flow co-founder and CEO Timo Valtonen defends the technology's potential. “The CPU is the weakest link in computing,” he said. TechCrunch. “He is not up to the task and this will have to change.”
It is not a retroactive solution
The technology involves an add-on chip that optimizes processing tasks in real time, transforming traditional serial processing into more parallel operation without additional power or excessive heat. This change is compared to expanding a CPU from a single-lane highway to a multi-lane highway, improving efficiency and processing speed.
Flow technology improves CPU functionality by managing tasks at nanosecond intervals, allowing multiple processes to occur simultaneously, thereby increasing performance without changing the clock speed or architecture of the CPU.
However, the adoption of this technology by chip manufacturers is crucial to their success. Flow's system must be incorporated at the chip design stage, which could disrupt current production methods. Despite these challenges, the potential for significant performance improvements with minimal modifications could make it an attractive option for chipmakers facing increasing demands for computing power.
Flow has proven that its technology works in FPGA-based tests and, with €4 million in seed funding and backing from several venture capital firms, is now seeking partnerships within the industry to further develop and scale its solution.
