In the dynamic world of artificial intelligence (AI), a select group of individuals stands at the forefront, steering the course of innovation in hardware development. As the global demand for graphics-processing units (GPUs) persists, these influencers are propelling companies and ventures into the AI frontier. Here’s an exclusive look at the top 10 minds driving the AI hardware revolution.
1. David Brown, Amazon Web Services
Leading Amazon Web Services, David Brown spearheads Amazon’s ambitious foray into generative-AI. Amazon’s custom chips, Inferentia and Trainium, aim to outperform competitors, promising better price performance and increased availability for efficient AI model building and training.
2. Sanja Fidler, Nvidia AI Hardware
As the Vice President of AI Research at Nvidia, Sanja Fidler commands one of the largest AI research teams globally. With expertise in computer vision and neural graphics, Fidler explores the use of generative AI in constructing 3D worlds, boasting an impressive portfolio of over 170 research papers.
3. Jack Hidary, SandboxAQ
Founder of SandboxAQ, Jack Hidary pioneers the fusion of AI and quantum technology. Formerly an Alphabet research unit, SandboxAQ secured a nine-figure investment, focusing on quantum workloads using AI chips. The company’s applications span diverse industries, including AI simulations for drug discovery and materials science.
4. Sissie Hsiao, Google
At the helm of Google’s Bard chatbot and Google Assistant, Sissie Hsiao propels Google’s AI prowess. With a focus on improving Bard’s generative-AI abilities, she navigates the company through the competitive landscape, demonstrating Google’s commitment to staying at the forefront of AI innovation.
5. Michael Intrator, CoreWeave
In a strategic pivot, Michael Intrator, co-founder of CoreWeave, leverages Nvidia GPUs for AI training via the cloud. Positioned amidst the GPU gold rush, CoreWeave’s valuation at $2 billion and potential investment from Microsoft underscore its significance in the AI hardware ecosystem.
6. Renee James, Ampere
Ampere, led by founder and CEO Renee James, disrupts the scene with energy-efficient processors for data centers. Formerly the president of Intel, James positions Ampere as a key player, claiming four times the performance for AI inference with significantly lower power consumption than competitors.
7. Sean Lie, Cerebras Systems
Cerebras Systems, under the guidance of co-founder and chief hardware architect Sean Lie, pioneers AI supercomputing with oversized chips. The company’s unique approach, focusing on designing chips larger than industry standards, promises AI system training potentially hundreds of times faster than rivals.
8. Daphne Luong, Apple
As Apple’s Senior Director of Machine Learning and AI, Daphne Luong shapes the company’s AI models. With a background at Google and expertise in AI research, Luong’s work at Apple, especially in conversational AI for Siri, holds the promise of influencing how millions interact with AI.
9. Sandra Rivera, Intel
Heading Intel’s data-center and AI group, Sandra Rivera plays a pivotal role in Intel’s AI strategy. With over two decades of experience at Intel, Rivera oversees key products like the Xeon chip, contributing to the development of components that power global computing systems.
10. Lisa Su, AMD
CEO of AMD, Lisa Su’s leadership has propelled the company’s stock value nearly thirtyfold. AMD’s focus on building chips and software for AI inference and training, along with strategic partnerships, positions the company as a formidable contender, challenging industry giant Nvidia.
In a landscape where AI hardware innovation is imperative, these leaders forge ahead, shaping the future of AI technology. Their contributions extend beyond individual companies, influencing the trajectory of AI adoption across diverse industries. As the race for AI supremacy continues, these influencers remain central to the evolution of AI hardware, driving progress and setting the stage for the next wave of technological breakthroughs.
