Google Appoints Intel Veteran to Lead Custom Chip Development

A significant trend has emerged within the technology sector, with numerous large corporations now opting to design and manufacture their own chips. Reflecting this movement, Google has announced the appointment of Uri Frank, a seasoned executive from Intel, as the new Vice President overseeing its custom chip division.

Expanding Cloud Infrastructure Capabilities

“The landscape of cloud infrastructure is evolving rapidly, presenting exciting opportunities. As we strive to satisfy the increasing computational requirements globally, we are pleased to welcome Uri Frank as our VP of Engineering for server chip design,” stated Amin Vahdat, a Google Fellow and VP of systems infrastructure, in a recent blog post.

Google gains a highly experienced leader in the chip industry with Frank’s arrival. He dedicated over twenty years to Intel, progressing through various engineering positions to ultimately become a Corporate Vice President within the Design Engineering Group, a role he held until earlier this month.

Focus on Innovation in Israel

Frank will be responsible for leading the custom chip division based in Israel. He expressed his enthusiasm about joining a company with a well-established history of developing custom silicon, as noted in his LinkedIn announcement.

“Google has a proven track record in designing and constructing some of the world’s most extensive and efficient computing systems. Custom chips have consistently been a crucial element of this strategy. I am eager to expand the team here in Israel and accelerate Google Cloud’s advancements in compute infrastructure,” Frank explained.

A History of Custom Chip Design

Google’s involvement in custom chip development began in 2015 with the introduction of its first TensorFlow chips. This was followed by advancements in video processing chips in 2018 and the addition of OpenTitan, a security-focused open-source chip, in 2019.

Frank’s primary objective will be to leverage this existing expertise to collaborate with customers and partners in creating innovative custom chip architectures.

Transitioning to System on a Chip (SoC) Designs

The company aims to shift away from procuring motherboard components from multiple suppliers and instead focus on building its own “System on a Chip” (SoC) solutions. This approach is anticipated to significantly enhance efficiency.

“Rather than assembling components on a motherboard with intervening wires, we are adopting “Systems on Chip” (SoC) designs, integrating multiple functions onto a single chip or within a single package. Essentially, the SoC is becoming the new motherboard,” Vahdat clarified.

Industry-Wide Trend

While Google was an early adopter of in-house chip development, other major companies, including Amazon, Facebook, Apple, and Microsoft, have also begun designing their own custom chips in recent years. This is driven by the need to address specific requirements and gain greater control over the interplay between hardware and software.

Looking Ahead

Frank’s leadership will be instrumental in guiding Google’s custom chip unit and propelling it to the next stage of development.

Key benefits of custom chips include:

• Increased efficiency
• Greater control over hardware and software integration
• Ability to meet unique computational needs