Facebook is assembling a team to design its own processors
Facebook is assembling a team to design its own processors
Facebook might be joining the likes of Apple, Google and Huawei to design its own processors.
According to Bloomberg, sources familiar with the matter and job listings suggest that Facebook is looking for a manager to create an "end-to-end SoC/ASIC, firmware and driver development organization." Facebook AI researcher Yann LeCun posted another job listing with a different role for creating AI chips. Here's an excerpt from the job listing:
Facebook is seeking a silicon design engineer to join our Infrastructure team. We are looking for candidates with expertise in architecting and designing semi-custom and fully custom ASICs. The role involves evaluating, developing and driving next generation technologies within Facebook. The candidate would need to work with software and system engineers to understand limitations of current hardware and use their expertise to build custom solutions targeted at multiple verticals including AI/ML, compression, and video encoding. This position is full-time and located in our Menlo Park office.
It is speculated that Facebook is looking to up its game on hardware. Business Insider reported last year that Facebook's secretive Building 8 hardware team is working on four advanced technology projects that range from augmented realities and cameras to more ambitious endeavors like brain scanning technology. Custom-designed processors should benefit Facebook as they are better optimized to work with the hardware.