Meta's Next-Gen AI Chip: RISC-V Core, 2026 Launch

On November 20th, as reported by the Economic Daily, leading North American cloud service providers, including Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, are actively engaged in the development of proprietary AI chips. Recent updates indicate that Meta, a major CSP player, is set to unveil its first-generation self-developed AI chip, the MTIA chip, in 2025, and is currently expediting the research and development of its second-generation AI chip. This forthcoming chip is slated to integrate Andes Technology's RISC-V core and leverage TSMC's 5nm fabrication process, with an anticipated completion of development by 2025 and an official launch in 2026.

Meta's initial foray into AI chip development, the MTIA, will undergo mass production utilizing TSMC's 7nm process. Noteworthy features of this chip include an 800MHz operating frequency, a modest 25W TDP, an INT8 integer computing capability of 102.4 TOPS, and an FP16 floating-point computing capability of 51.2 TFLOPS.

In line with Meta's commitment to technological advancement, the first-generation MTIA chip boasts two Andes Technology AX25-V100 core processors, underscoring the industry's recognition of Andes Technology's robust RISC-V IP core capabilities. The imminent second-generation MTIA chip, continuing with Andes Technology's RISC-V core, is poised to increase its core count from the initial two. Currently in the commission design (NRE) phase, it is expected to conclude development in the first half of the coming year.

Insiders within the industry have revealed that the second-generation MTIA chip is anticipated to be manufactured using TSMC's 5nm process. Acknowledging the intricate phases involved in chip development, including product engineering verification, trial production with the wafer factory, and crucially, confirmation of customer adoption timelines, the official launch is projected for early 2026, encompassing a development timeline of approximately 32 to 36 months.

With the imminent mass production of Meta's first-generation MTIA chip in the latter part of the upcoming year, there lies an opportunity for the second-generation MTIA chip to follow suit in 2025. This not only contributes to the revenue from licensing Meta's inaugural self-developed AI chip but also establishes a foundation for subsequent revenue streams from second-generation products, fostering an enhancement in operational performance.