China is increasingly relying on artificial intelligence (AI) to innovate its processor designs in response to recent U.S. sanctions. The emergence of an AI system known as QiMeng has accelerated chip development, leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs) to create entire central processing units (CPUs). So far, this technology has led to the development of two processors: the QiMeng-CPU-v1, which is similar to the Intel 486, and the QiMeng-CPU-v2, reportedly comparable to the Arm Cortex A53.
While the Intel 486 is a historic model from 1989, the potential of the v2 chip reflects advancements over the past decade, considering the Cortex A53 was introduced in 2012. The initiative, spearheaded by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), aims to enhance China’s design capabilities by significantly reducing the time required for development. Tasks that traditionally demand weeks of effort from human teams can now potentially be accomplished by QiMeng in a matter of days.
For instance, designing a chip for an autonomous vehicle, which typically involves extensive human resources, could be completed rapidly using this AI tool. In the wider context of chip design, notable Electronic Design Automation (EDA) companies like Cadence and Synopsys have also integrated AI into their processes. Synopsys.ai, in particular, has played a pivotal role in the design of over 200 finalized chips.
However, the increasing export controls imposed by the U.S. on these EDA firms limit their collaboration with Chinese enterprises, creating a timely opportunity for the QiMeng project to flourish. While QiMeng’s initial objective focused on reducing costs and expediting development, its future iterations, particularly QiMeng v3, will be crucial. The success of this next version will determine if it can produce more advanced processors, enabling the Chinese semiconductor industry to mitigate the impact of U.S. sanctions that restrict access to key technologies.