The US-based Synaptics is scaling up its operations in Taiwan, making it the company's largest base for AI processor R&D, according to the fabless chipmaker.
Synaptics announced on October 23 its plans to expand its operations in Hsinchu, Taiwan. Company CEO Michael Hurlston attended the ceremony in Taiwan, stating that Taiwan has become Synaptics' largest employee base globally. He added that the company is entering its next stage of transformation and is working to maintain its leading position in the Internet of Things (IoT) and edge AI markets.
Expanding edge AI capabilities
In an interview at Synaptics' Hsinchu office following the opening press conference, Hurlston revealed that the company has invested significant resources into the distributed computing field and is focused on expanding its technical capabilities in edge AI. He emphasized that the Synaptics team is actively developing its AI processor business, with Taiwan serving as the R&D center.
Speaking about edge AI market conditions, Hurlston stated that while many companies are talking about AI technology on edge devices, Synaptics was the first company to launch a solution that can run machine learning models directly on edge devices.
Hurlston emphasized that the models launched by the company have excellent inference computing capabilities; the computing performance can reach 10-20 TOPS, with a single chip priced between US$5-7. He noted that Synaptics products and prices are competitive, making it the most cost-effective choice among those providing the same functionality.
When compared with AI chips used in data centers, which can cost several thousands of dollars, edge AI chips offer significantly better economics, Hurlston explained.
Synaptics is currently working to develop a data distribution ecosystem to distribute workloads to edge devices. This will allow simpler computing to be done on the chip while more complex computing is processed in the data center, thereby effectively distributing workloads and avoiding the concentration of all computing in the data center, ultimately reducing costs and improving efficiency.
Regarding the artificial general intelligence (AGI) concept and how to run real machine learning models on chips at the edge of the network, Hurlston said that Synaptics is engaged in several design activities. The company is working with several product companies that have decided for the first time to integrate AI technology into their solutions, including camera lenses, airplanes, and computers.
Hurlston is optimistic about edge AI development prospects, especially the ability to carry out machine learning on chips. For product applications, he said the first step is to determine how to integrate AI into CPUs.
Synaptics predicts that AI technology will be widely used in edge devices beginning in 2026 and will be further popularized in 2027. Based on this, the mainstream application of edge AI will take another two years.
Synaptics remains confident in Taiwan's market
During recent visits to several companies, Hurlston observed a somewhat pessimistic mood in the semiconductor market.
However, he emphasized that Synaptics remains confident, primarily due to its product advantages. The company's processors are already being used in several markets, such as electronic equipment, enterprise telecommunications, and human detection features. With these processors and wireless network solutions already embedded in existing products, Synaptics remains confident in future market development.
The development team at Synaptics' Hsinchu office will focus on AI-driven IoT edge devices to seize market opportunities in the consumer, automotive, and industrial markets. The company currently has 400 employees across Taiwan.
Synaptics maintains close relationships with suppliers in Taiwan, such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC), ASE Technology Holding, and Ampak Technology. This substantial investment in Taiwan reflects its confidence in the region as a key area for growth and a strategic location.
The Hsinchu and Taipei offices serve as hubs for Synaptics' financial and sales services, business engineering and supplier management, wireless product development and support, and core PC touch and fingerprint sensor solutions.
Article translated by Eifeh Strom
