SiFive Launches Second-Generation RISC-V IP for AI Workloads in Edge Computing and Data Centers

SiFive launched its 2nd gen Intelligence family by introducing five new RISC-V-based products designed to accelerate AI workloads across various applications. The lineup includes two new products, the X160 Gen 2 and X180 Gen 2, alongside upgraded versions of the X280 Gen 2, X390 Gen 2, and XM Gen 2. These products feature enhanced scalar, vector, and matrix processing capabilities, with the XM Gen 2 specifically incorporating a matrix engine for modern AI workloads.

The X160 Gen 2 and X180 Gen 2 are tailored for far edge computing and IoT applications, offering high efficiency in a compact footprint to support power- and area-constrained environments. Target industries include automotive, autonomous robotics, industrial automation, and smart IoT. The X100 series has been adopted by two Tier 1 U.S. semiconductor companies, according to SiFive CEO Patrick Little.

A Deloitte survey cited by SiFive projects at least 20% growth in AI workloads across all tech environments, with a 78% increase in AI edge computing. SiFive’s vector-based RISC-V IPs leverage vector engines to process multiple data items in parallel, reducing instruction overhead and power consumption compared to traditional scalar-only CPUs. This design enables faster AI model execution with a smaller footprint, suited for edge AI applications.

The 2nd Generation Intelligence IP supports a...