AMD to Acquire AI Chip Startup Taalas

AMD announced plans to acquire AI chip startup Taalas, which designs custom accelerators for specific AI models, trading flexibility for lower costs and faster output. Taalas's tech is based on Meta's Llama 3.1, using mature TSMC processes and high-speed SRAM, delivering inference speeds thousands of times faster than traditional GPUs, but chips can't be upgraded later. CEO says their platform can turn any AI model into custom silicon in just two months. Taalas has raised $219 million in venture funding since 2023; deal terms not disclosed.