Hyundai Motor Group has revealed its strategic investment in Canadian AI semiconductor company Tenstorrent, paving the way for AI integration into forthcoming Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis vehicles, as well as future mobility solutions such as robotics and advanced air mobility (AAM).
Both Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation will jointly invest $50 million, solidifying the Group as the primary investor in Tenstorrent’s recent funding round totaling $100 million. This infusion will expedite Tenstorrent’s development of AI chiplets and machine learning (ML) software pathways.
The collaboration will leverage Tenstorrent’s robust AI semiconductor technology to collaboratively craft optimized semiconductors. These advanced chips will power central processing units (CPU) and neural processing units (NPU) for forthcoming vehicles and mobility solutions.
Heung-soo Kim, Executive Vice President of Hyundai Motor Group’s Global Strategy Office (GSO), stated, “Tenstorrent’s potential and high-performance AI semiconductors will fortify the Group’s competitive stance in future mobility technology. This investment is set to drive differentiated semiconductor technology, enhancing our AI capabilities and supporting upcoming mobility solutions.”
Jim Keller, Tenstorrent’s CEO, expressed gratitude for Hyundai’s trust and highlighted the company’s ambitious forays into technology adoption, citing the Group’s partnership with Boston Dynamics, joint venture with Aptiv, and now investment in Tenstorrent.
Hyundai Motor Group, having recently established the Semiconductor Development Group, is dedicated to customized semiconductor advancement, achieved through strategic external partnerships.
Founded in 2016, Tenstorrent specializes in designing and developing processors that expedite AI and ML operations. With the guidance of renowned semiconductor figure Jim Keller, Tenstorrent aims to extend its expertise into the automotive sector by leveraging its AI semiconductor core intellectual property, semiconductor experts, and development focus.