Korean AI chip designer DeepX is nearing mass production of its DX-M1 processor in collaboration with Samsung Electronics, with plans to start shipments to clients in the first half of next year.
DeepX announced on Thursday that it has signed a deal with Gaonchips, a Korean chip design house specializing in optimizing designs for mass production, to support Samsung Electronics’ clients.
The DX-M1 will be manufactured using Samsung Electronics’ five-nanometer technology.
The DX-M1 is an on-device AI neural processing unit (NPU) that DeepX has been testing with Samsung’s contract-manufacturing team since June. The company has made improvements to the processor’s inference capabilities and power consumption based on last year’s sample versions.
DeepX reports that around 20 global companies are currently developing products using the DX-M1 processor.
The Korean AI chip startup, founded by former Apple engineer Kim Lo-kwon, specializes in on-device AI processors. The company recently raised $80 million in Series C funding, despite challenging market conditions, boosting its valuation to $529 million.
The company aims to secure up to 20 clients by next year and is making its debut in the United States, Europe, and Japan.