5.3.1. Specialized Hardware for AI Tasks

Try these first

1. 1.

   What does GPU stand for?

   Hint

   Think about what graphical processing involves.

2. 2.

   Which company developed TPUs?

   Hint

   This is the same company known for search and cloud services.

3. 3.

   What is the primary advantage of using GPUs for AI tasks?

   • They are always cheap
   • They allow for parallel processing
   • They can replace CPUs

   Hint

   Consider how tasks in AI often require simultaneous computations.

4. 4.

   True or False: ASICs are general-purpose processors.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Reflect on the meaning of 'application-specific' as it relates to ASICs.

5. 5.

   Design a hypothetical AI application for an autonomous vehicle. Which specialized hardware would you choose and why?

   Hint

   Consider real-time processing requirements and the nature of the computations involved.

6. 6.

   Evaluate the trade-offs between ASIC and FPGA for a startup developing an AI application focused on facial recognition.

   Hint

   Think about the balance between flexibility in development vs. efficiency in deployment.