Facebook is important player in AI in both research -- run by deep learning pioneer Yann LeCun -- as well as applying the latest AI techniques widely across its social network. As the chip's name suggests, the processor is optimized for running neural networks, another name for deep learning. Intel plans to release performance benchmarks for its AI chip later this year. Because the chip project began outside of Intel, the first chip will be manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, not Intel. In this new era of AI, Intel is having to move beyond its general-purpose CPU to keep up and has acquired a number of companies.

Source: Forbes October 17, 2017 18:00 UTC