BlackRock backs Dutch chipmaker Axelera AI in $250 million round

BlackRock participated in a $250 million funding round for Dutch chipmaker Axelera AI, which builds processors for AI inference intended for edge devices.

BlackRock took part in a $250 million funding round for Dutch chipmaker Axelera AI, the article reports. Axelera develops processors for inference, the step when AI models run in real-world applications. While much inference still occurs in cloud data centers, Axelera's chips are designed for local or "edge" deployment on devices such as phones and security cameras. The company positions these designs as a way to reduce reliance on large GPU-powered data centers, including those that use Nvidia-made GPUs. Key facts: - BlackRock backed a $250 million financing round for Axelera AI. - Axelera AI is a Dutch chipmaker focused on processors for AI inference. - The company's chips are intended for edge deployment on devices like phones and security cameras. - Edge deployment is presented as a means to lessen dependence on large GPU-powered data centers, including those using Nvidia GPUs. Summary: The reported funding is linked to Axelera AI's work on chips for edge AI inference. Undetermined at this time.