Cisco unveils new AI networking chips to compete with Broadcom and Marvell
In direct rivalry with Broadcom, which introduced the Jericho3-AI chip in April, Cisco has entered the market for AI supercomputer chips.
Highlights
- Cisco Systems introduced networking chips for AI supercomputers
- Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, & Google Cloud might be the cloud providers, say sources
- Cisco's Ethernet switches, known as the G200 & G202, have been released
Cisco, an American-based multinational digital communications company that is a maker of networking equipment such as PCs, laptops, routers, servers, and printers for a local area network, has introduced new AI-based networking chips to compete with Broadcom and Marvell (global suppliers of semiconductor and software products).
Five cloud providers to test new chips
On 20 June 2023, Cisco Systems unveiled networking chips for AI supercomputers in order to compete with Broadcom and Marvell Technology's products. The new chips, which are part of Cisco's SiliconOne series, are now being examined by five large cloud providers, whose identities have not been revealed.
According to Bofa Global Research, (a research company of America), the market for cloud computing is dominated by three major cloud players: Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, which is why they are anticipated to be among these cloud providers.
Meanwhile, the most recent generation of Cisco's Ethernet switches, known as the G200 & G202, has also been released by the company.
The importance of quick communication between individual chips has been highlighted by the rising popularity of AI applications powered by graphics processing units (GPUs), such as ChatGPT.
High competition in the AI supercomputing sector
Cisco, which is also a well-known provider of networking equipment, including Ethernet switches that can link up to 32,000 GPUs together, can provide performance that is two times as fast as the previous generation.
Rakesh Chopra, a Cisco colleague and former chief engineer, claims that the G200 and G202 processors will be the most powerful networking chips available for AI and machine learning workloads. With 40% fewer switches and less latency, these chips will offer a more power-efficient network. Overall, Cisco's networking chips are designed to better serve the needs of AI supercomputers by meeting the rising need for AI applications.
Cisco will now be in direct competition with Broadcom, which in April unveiled the Jericho3-AI processor. It must be noted that the Jericho3-AI chip allows for the connection of 32,000 GPU chips. This trend reflects the industry's increasing competitiveness in the fast-developing AI supercomputing sector.
