The Challenge is Scaling AI Beyond the Data Center
As AI continues to expand into every facet of our lives—from autonomous systems to real-time decision-making processes—so does the demand for its power. Training a model is only part of the equation. In fact, up to 85% of energy consumed by AI happens during inference, when models are deployed across millions of devices for tasks like image recognition or predictive maintenance. In the constrained environments of edge computing, power efficiency becomes critical (Power Electronics News)(Fierce Electronics).
Traditional processors like GPUs and CPUs, while powerful, are not suitable for low-power environments. This is where Efinix FPGAs come in. They are equipped with the computing muscle needed to run AI models at the edge without draining energy resources, making them perfectly suited for applications such as smart sensors, driver assistance, industrial automation, and even consumer electronics.
Efinix FPGAs Leading the Charge
Efinix is at the forefront of this change, redefining what’s possible in FPGA technology. Our highly efficient, reconfigurable, scalable platform allows devices to adapt to changing AI models without the need for hardware modifications. For example, FPGAs in machine vision systems are capable of processing high-speed data in real-time, making immediate decisions while retaining the flexibility to adapt to evolving AI models over time. The same flexibility extends to industrial applications, where systems must adapt to fluctuating demands or the evolution of AI systems, without expensive downtime or hardware retrofits.
By utilizing RISC-V-based computing solutions that can be highly accelerated in the efficient Efinix fabric, Efinix FPGAs offer a cost-effective, low-power alternative that addresses the challenges of running AI models at the edge.
As AI models become more complex—integrating multi-modal data like video, language, and audio—Efinix's ecosystem supports their rapid deployment across industries. Models can be debugged and honed on the RISC-V core in an intuitive and rapid flow. Once fully functional, the models can be accelerated with hardware accelerators in the FPGA fabric called directly with custom instructions from the code running on the RISC-V processor. The result is fast time to market with a familiar and low risk design flow.
Efinix has three families of FPGA for designers to choose from. From the entry level “workhorse” Trion family to the value optimized Topaz family for high performance high volume deployments to the Titanium no compromise high performance family. RISC-V processors are available in “soft” cores across all three families while members of the Titanium family contain a quad core, gigahertz capable hardened core for the maximum AI performance.
The Journey in the Ecosystem
As AI’s story unfolds, the ecosystem it inhabits is just as important as the technology that powers it. Efinix’s ecosystem of design partners, IP providers and customers supports a variety of industries, from consumer electronics to industrial sensors, helping partners deploy AI models more efficiently. These devices make intelligent decisions on the spot, reducing the latency and bandwidth needed to transfer data back to a centralized server.
At the heart of the ecosystem, Efinix technology enables this transformation by scaling platforms to different applications—like augmented reality, automotive sensor fusion, or edge AI. Companies are no longer confined to fixed systems; they can evolve at the speed of AI, adjusting models based on new data or recent innovations. (Fierce Electronics).
A Future Powered by AI at the Edge
We are entering an era where AI Everywhere is not just a vision—it’s happening now. By 2028, it's projected that 50% of all AI models will be deployed at the edge. As the demand for real-time AI processing increases, Efinix FPGAs are helping businesses meet this challenge by offering energy-efficient, scalable solutions that allow AI to operate where it’s needed most—right next to the data (Power Electronics News)(Fierce Electronics).
Efinix's role in this evolution goes beyond just hardware. We're building the tools and ecosystem that will help shape the future of AI, making it more accessible, adaptable, and sustainable across industries.