LG AI Research partners with FuriosaAI for large-scale AI chips

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LG AI Research will partner with FuriosaAI to research and develop chips designed to train large-scale artificial intelligence.

FuriosaAI is a local startup that designs AI semiconductors.

The partnership aims to deploy Renegade, FuriosaAI's AI chip, in exploring the possible applications of Exaone, LG's large-scale AI system, in areas such as translation or chatbots.

Renegade is a type of neural processing unit (NPU) that is more energy-efficient and faster in processing data compared to a central processing unit or graphic processing unit, according to LG AI Research.

Exaone is LG’s multimodal AI system which is able to process various types of data from biosignals to facial expressions. LG claims it is capable of processing and analyzing the highest amount of data in Korea. It was first introduced in 2021 and has continuously been updated.

FuriosaAI said it will reflect feedback from LG AI Research to update its Renegade AI chips before beginning mass production, scheduled for the first half of next year.

“Through our collaboration with LG AI Research, we are going to bring AI chips and generative AI technologies to a world-class level,” said June Paik, CEO of FuriosaAI.

“The two companies share the vision of developing AI that can help mankind.”

LG Group is steadily resuming its chip business that it scrapped back in 1999.

Last month, LG Electronics signed a partnership with Canada-based AI computing start-up Tenstorrent to work together on AI processors that can potentially power the tech company's smart consumer appliances and automotive parts.

BY JIN EUN-SOO [jin.eunsoo@joongang.co.kr]