In a recent discussion, Apple’s Ron Huang and Eric Treski provided an in-depth breakdown of the latest enhancements in AirPods. These innovations include Adaptive Audio, Personalized Volume, Conversational Awareness, and the exciting Vision Pro connectivity featured in AirPods Pro 2.

These features promise to revolutionize the audio experience for Apple users, offering a dynamic and personalized listening experience like never before.

Uber Eats and Getir Join Forces for Speedy Grocery Deliveries in Europe

Uber Eats and quick-commerce provider Getir have entered into a partnership to bring swift grocery deliveries to customers in the UK. This collaboration expands the range of grocery options available to Uber Eats users, enhancing convenience for consumers.

By Natasha Lomas

September 26, 2023

AI Chip Innovator, Kneron, Raises $49 Million to Drive Commercial Expansion

Kneron, a company specializing in AI chips for applications such as self-driving cars and other autonomous machines, has secured $49 million in an extension to its Series B funding round. Notable investors, including Foxconn, Alltek, Horizon Ventures, Liteon Technology Corp, Adata, and Palpilot, have contributed to this funding round.

Kneron’s CEO, Albert Liu, emphasized that this capital injection, bringing the total raised to $190 million, will be pivotal in expanding their presence in the automotive industry and strengthening their research and development capabilities.

As the demand for AI continues to soar, there is a parallel surge in the need for AI-focused chips. According to Gartner, this presents a $53.4 billion revenue opportunity for the semiconductor industry, a remarkable 20.9% increase from the previous year.

Investors are recognizing this immense potential, with VC funding for chip startups doubling between 2017 and 2022.

Kneron, founded in 2015 by Liu and Frank Chang, specializes in developing hardware tailored for AI applications, particularly Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). These low-power, reconfigurable AI chips seamlessly integrate with various systems, including autonomous vehicle sensors, and can execute diverse algorithms, ranging from facial and body detection models to text generation.

Kneron faces competition from other players in the field, such as NeuReality, Hailo, Mythic, and Flex Logix. Additionally, tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Nvidia are also vying for supremacy in AI inferencing.

Despite the competition, Kneron has achieved significant revenue, reaching double-digit millions. Their customer base comprises approximately 30 renowned brands, including Garmin, Naver, and Quanta. Through their acquisition of imaging tech provider Otus in April, Kneron has established partnerships with automotive customers like JVC Kenwood.

In the short term, Kneron will strategically focus on AI applications, such as autonomous vehicles, that do not directly compete with established industry leaders. However, they plan to challenge these incumbents in the future, potentially through collaborations with third-party vendors.

According to Liu, Kneron is well-positioned to make a substantial impact on the industry. Their lightweight reconfigurable solutions address three critical challenges faced by AI use cases—latency, security, and cost—paving the way for AI to permeate various sectors.