Can India emerge as a serious force in the global semiconductor industry soon? Discussing Ambient Scientific’s bold push to build energy-efficient AI processors, tech and ambition, GP Singh explains the potential to EFY’s Nidhi Agarwal and Vidushi Saxena.
Q. What does your company do?
A. We are a fabless semiconductor company, where contract manufacturers handle production. We focus on advanced artificial intelligence (AI) processors, ranging from simple components like resistors to complex microprocessors that run hundreds of applications, including Intel x86, ARM chips in smartphones, and graphics processing units (GPUs). Computing is entering a new era led by artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning based on neural networks. Only a few companies design AI at the microprocessor level, and we are among them.
Our core technology, Digan or MX X Engines, can be scaled like GPUs. Our first product, GPX 10, has 10 AI cores, and GPX 10 Pro also has 10 cores but with more memory and broader capabilities. These chips let AI run on battery-powered devices, previously impossible due to high power needs.
Q. Do you find any competition in this field, and how do you see yourself standing in that landscape?
A. Chips range from basic components to application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), which are task-specific but quickly become obsolete. Systems-on-chip (SoCs) integrate multiple architectures for broader use, while microprocessors support thousands of applications, including AI. As I said, few startups compete at our level. Even if large firms enter, our technology and position remain strong.
Q. Who is your primary target audience?
A. Our first products, the GPX 10 and GPX 10 Pro, are for battery-powered AI devices. One customer is launching a pendant that detects emergencies, alerts loved ones, and shares global positioning system (GPS) location, running for months on a small battery. Our chips also support healthcare, fitness, pet care, and industrial maintenance. Next, we will expand to larger devices and broader AI applications for everyday products.
We also believe that there will be strong demand in healthcare, industrial automation and robotics, and security. In the security sector, for example, devices using our chips can automatically detect objects and identify potential intruders, distinguishing between family members, strangers, animals, or even someone carrying a weapon.
Q. What is your go-to-market strategy for India?
A. You see, Ambient Scientific is based out of Santa Clara, California, and we have already started building our presence in India. Like most semiconductor companies, we sell through distributors, representatives, and regional partners, as a single company cannot maintain a global sales team. We have signed distribution agreements in several countries and are expanding globally, while our marketing and sales team also targets large customers directly. This mix of channels and direct sales is a standard, practical approach in the industry.
Q. Do you also face any challenges in India as a market?
A. The biggest issue is that the infrastructure for hardware companies is still developing. While software infrastructure in India is highly advanced and has enabled many successful startups, especially in software-as-a-service (SaaS), the hardware ecosystem is still evolving.
Q. Are there any Indian partnerships you are looking forward to?
A. Yes, we already have customers in India and multiple distributors. We plan to launch our first product in India soon and continue building our partnerships here.
