智通财经网·2025-11-28 01:16Core Insights - Google's latest seventh-generation Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) "Ironwood" has gained significant industry attention, particularly following the successful launch of the Gemini 3 model, which was trained using Ironwood TPUv7 [1][2] - The success of Google's custom chips is highlighting the growing role of custom ASICs in the AI computing era, potentially benefiting Intel's foundry services and product roadmap [1][3] Google TPU Overview - The Ironwood TPU offers a 2x improvement in performance/efficiency compared to its predecessor, the Trillium TPU, and is being used to train Gemini 3, a leading multimodal and reasoning model [2] - There are speculations that Meta may invest billions in Google TPUs starting in 2027, and Anthropic has expanded its partnership with Google, committing to use up to 1 million TPUs from 2026 [2] TSMC's Role - TSMC is the primary manufacturer for Google's TPU and the latest ARM architecture Axion CPU, with the Ironwood TPU likely utilizing TSMC's N3 process [3] - TSMC's advanced node capacity is currently constrained, with demand outpacing supply, which could impact Google's TPU production [3] Opportunities for Intel's Foundry Services - The increasing interest in TPUs may lead Google to diversify its manufacturing strategy, potentially creating opportunities for Intel's foundry services [4] - Intel's advanced packaging technologies, such as Foveros and EMIB, are seen as favorable alternatives due to ongoing capacity constraints at TSMC [4] Intel's Manufacturing Capacity - Intel's foundry services in the U.S. align with Google's need for regional and capacity diversification, similar to Tesla's recent agreement with Samsung for AI processor production [5] - Intel has secured contracts to manufacture Microsoft's next-generation custom AI processor, indicating its growing role in the custom chip market [5] Intel's Product Department Potential - The momentum of Google's TPU could benefit Intel's product department, which is focusing on optimizing inference performance and cost-effectiveness in AI solutions [6][7] - Intel's upcoming "Crescent Island" AI processor is optimized for AI inference workloads, aligning with the growing demand for custom ASICs [7] Custom ASIC Market Dynamics - Google's success with TPUs may encourage further adoption of custom AI ASICs, positioning Intel's product department favorably in the competitive landscape [8][9] - The industry's shift towards optimizing performance per dollar per watt is increasing the demand for efficient custom ASICs like Google's TPU, especially amid supply constraints for NVIDIA's AI processors [9][10] Conclusion - The strong demand for custom ASICs and the breakthrough of Google's TPU suggest that Intel's AI strategy under CEO Pat Gelsinger is becoming more compelling, potentially enhancing growth prospects for both its product and foundry departments [10]