How Samsung Is Becoming an AI Superpower With Its Neural Processing Unit

Samsung Electronics, "a world leader in advanced semiconductor technology", announced in November 2018 that they would have processors that are capable of on-device AI starting with the Exynos 9 Series 9280 processor. This was due to the processor's impressive neural processing unit (NPU) that can "bring new smart experiences to mobile devices". This NPU helps the Exynos 9820 perform AI tasks around seven times faster than its predecessor. The company have recently announced that they aim to improve the NPU in order "to further extend the reach of its artificial intelligence (AI) solutions."

Samsung plans to create over 2000 jobs related to its powerful NPU by 2030. They also wish to build on the relationships with globally distinguished research institutes and universities, so they can continue to make a positive impact on the AI world by exploring key areas such as deep learning and neural processing. These new jobs are 10 times the current number of people working on the NPU, which means that there are big changes coming for the new Samsung processors.

For the coming age of AI, Samsung is committed to delivering industry-leading advancements brought to life by our NPU technologies... As we leverage our differentiated technology, close partnerships with global institutes and active investment in top talent, we are excited to take future AI processing capabilities to the next level.
— Inyup Kang, president of System LSI Business at Samsung Electronics

The applications of the NPU are endless, but important uses can be seen in the automotive industry. The NPU can be used for in-vehicle infotainment (IVI), as Audi has announced that Samsung's Exynos processor will power their IVI system and is expected to debut by 2021. Additionally, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) may take advantage of the AI processing capabilities of the NPU, which can mean that lanes and obstacles are recognised more efficiently. Research is also being done by Samsung to see if the NPU can be used in order to help create a neuromorphic processor that can mimic a human brain.

Some of the potential advances in automobiles featuring NPUs (Source: Samsung Newsroom)

Some of the potential advances in automobiles featuring NPUs (Source: Samsung Newsroom)

Samsung isn't the first company to have a dedicated NPU in a flagship smartphone - Huawei was. The Chinese smartphone maker's Mate 10 houses a powerful Kirin 970 chip, and they claim the NPU can increase performance up to 25 times compared to a CPU or a GPU. When tested against Samsung's Galaxy Note 8, the Mate 10 recognised 100 photos much quicker than the Samsung flagship with the Mate 10 taking only five seconds and the Samsung taking 100 seconds. It should be noted that these tests were conducted internally by Huawei.