An AI chip is a specialized processor designed to perform the mathematical operations used by artificial intelligence and machine learning workloads efficiently. Unlike general-purpose CPUs, AI chips are optimized for tasks such as neural-network inference, matrix calculations, and parallel data processing, allowing models to run faster while using less power for certain workloads.
AI chips are found in data centers, smartphones, autonomous vehicles, robotics, cameras, and other intelligent devices. GPUs, neural processing units (NPUs), tensor processing units (TPUs), and AI accelerators are common examples. Their architecture can influence how quickly an AI model responds, how much energy it consumes, and whether processing can happen locally through edge AI rather than in the cloud.
