Jim Keller Reportedly Working with Samsung on AI Processors

The FPS Review may receive a commission if you purchase something after clicking a link in this article.

Image: Intel

Jim Keller is rumored to be working with Samsung on a new line of AI processors. The rumor was sparked by a keynote speech he made at the Samsung SAFE Forum last week. If true, he would be working with some of the most advanced node processes on the planet, such as Samsung’s 2 nm chips set to arrive in 2025.

At the Samsung Foundry Forum meeting a few days ago, Jim Keller gave a keynote speech, which sparked speculation that he would join Samsung and engage in more advanced AI processors.

Image: Samsung
CompanyTitleImportant
Product
1980s1998DECArchitectAlpha
19981999AMDLead ArchitectK7, K8v1
HyperTransport
19992000SiByteChief ArchitectMIPS Networking
20002004BroadcomChief ArchitectMIPS Networking
20042008P.A. SemiVP EngineeringLow Power Mobile
20082012AppleVP EngineeringA4 / A5 Mobile
8/20129/2015AMDCorp VP and
Chief Cores Architect
Skybridge / K12
(+ Zen)
1/20164/2018TeslaVP Autopilot
Hardware Engineering
Fully Self-Driving
(FSD) Chip
4/20186/2020IntelSenior VP
Silicon Engineering
?
2021TenstorrentPresident and CTOTBD
Table: AnandTech

Keller is a celebrity in the semiconductor industry. He is credited as the father of AMD’s Zen architecture, although he jokingly calls himself one of the uncles. He also worked with Apple and Intel; there’s a rumor that he helped the latter develop a new processor called Royal Cove, slated for a 2024 release. In 2016, he joined Tesla to help develop a chip for the autonomous driving computing system. He is currently president and CTO of Tenstorrent Inc. He sat down with AnandTech recently for an in-depth review and explained his stake in the company.

The company itself is already many years old, but we’re building a new generation of parts and going to market and starting to sell stuff. I’m CTO and president, have a big stake in the company, both financially and also a commitment to my friends there, so I plan on being here for a while.

There has been no official word on any partnership with Samsung, but given his extensive history of contributing to so many companies and his increased interests in AI, it is probable. It would likely be some kind of contractual partnership versus him leaving Tenstorrent.

Sources: Baidu (via Chiphell). The Korea Economic Daily Edition, AnandTech

Peter Brosdahl
As a child of the 70’s I was part of the many who became enthralled by the video arcade invasion of the 1980’s. Saving money from various odd jobs I purchased my first computer from a friend of my dad, a used Atari 400, around 1982. Eventually it would end up being a lifelong passion of upgrading and modifying equipment that, of course, led into a career in IT support.

Recent News