Alphabet's Google has introduced the Google Axion Processor - a custom chip designed with Arm technology, specifically created for improving energy efficiency and performance in data centers. This announcement precedes the keynotes at the much-anticipated Google Cloud Next conference.
The Axion Processor heralds Google's entry into the custom CPU world and mirrors increasing competition among giants in the tech industry, with companies like Microsoft and Amazon also stepping into developing custom silicon chips amid the unfolding AI wave.
Google's monumental enhancement in custom silicon transpires from its strategic collaboration with Arm, merging Google’s unsurpassed silicon know-how with Arm’s highly efficient CPU cores.
Reportedly, Axion translates to 30% higher performance against the fastest Arm-based instances on the present-day cloud, Google claims. Furthermore, when compared with contemporary technology, Axion showcases up to 50% better performance and a staggering 60% improvement in energy-efficiency.
Google intends to turbocharge several of its services with Axion, including the Google Earth Engine and YouTube Ads platform.
The innovative Axion Processor is expected to be part of Google Cloud's offerings to customers by the latter part of 2024 with, Broadcom, CrowdStrike, and Snap already poised to utilise it.
Meanwhile, Alphabet's stock value was seen to have risen 0.7% to $155.96 by 10:45 a.m. ET on Tuesday. The company has witnessed nearly a 13% growth since 2024 began and an impressive 46% increase over the last year.