AI is reshaping chip design tools, and the results are impossible to ignore

Why it matters: As powerful as AI may be, many industries are still struggling to find clear-cut applications that make a measurable, demonstrable difference. Thankfully, that is not the case when it comes to chip design software. In fact, since their introduction just a few years ago, AI-powered features have become a mainstay of EDA (Electronic Design Automation) tools from companies such as Cadence and Synopsys. Silicon designers quickly discovered that many of the complex yet often tedious tasks involved in their process – particularly the "grunt work" – could be automated or dramatically simplified by intelligent AI algorithms. From the automated layout of certain IP blocks to improved efficiencies in IP block interconnects, these AI features help accelerate the less creative (but still critical) parts of the workflow, allowing designers to focus more on the interesting and innovative aspects of chip development. In addition, AI-powered tools can drive impressive improvements in ... Read full article.