Cadence CEO Unveils Exciting LLM GenAI Breakthrough for Chip Design

In a recent keynote address, Dr. Anirudh Devgan, president and CEO of Cadence, shared groundbreaking insights into the future of generative AI (GenAI) for semiconductor and system design. With a focus on artificial intelligence (AI), 3D-IC, and digital biology, Dr. Devgan highlighted Cadence's advancements, partnerships, and the potential impact of GenAI in these domains.

3D-IC: A New Era of Chip Design

Dr. Devgan emphasized the significance of 3D-IC, a cutting-edge technology that combines multiple chiplet and package design and manufacturing. Cadence's collaboration with leading foundries aims to establish a 3D-IC flow to revolutionize the semiconductor industry. This approach, begun in high-performance computing, is expected to extend Moore's Law and enable faster, more powerful systems.

With a rich history of 30 years in semiconductor design automation, Cadence's Allegro software has become the go-to solution for package design worldwide. Dr. Devgan highlighted the importance of integrating chip design, package design, and analysis, such as thermal and electromagnetic considerations.

Simulation: Advancing System-Level Analysis

Dr. Devgan underscored the growing need for system-level simulation, particularly in automotive, aerospace, and biology. Cadence's extensive R&D efforts, involving over 1000 professionals, are dedicated to advancing simulation capabilities beyond chip-level analysis. Integrating AI algorithms and specialized hardware, such as GPUs, enables Cadence to tackle complex simulations in computational fluid dynamics, finite element analysis, and molecular simulation.

To establish a position in computational biology, Cadence acquired OpenEye Scientific, a company specializing in molecular simulation. This strategic move aligns with Cadence's vision of applying AI and specialized hardware to simulate molecules, similar to how SPICE simulation revolutionized transistor-level analysis. Dr. Devgan expressed his belief that computational biology will be a significant focus in the next decade, with AI and specialized hardware playing a crucial role in advancing this field.

The Three Phases of AI

Drawing parallels with the evolution of previous technologies, Dr. Devgan outlined the three phases of AI. The first phase focuses on infrastructure, including specialized AI chips like GPUs. The second phase involves applying AI to existing products, similar to how AI is to internet search. The third and most exciting phase consists of the emergence of new applications that were previously unimaginable. Dr. Devgan believes that life sciences will be one of the most significant beneficiaries of AI, with computational biology playing a pivotal role.

He also introduced the industry's first chip-design version of a GPT (Generative Pre-Trained Transformer). The Cadence JedAI LLM focuses on the design-cleaning process. Engineers can use the LLM chatbot to interrogate the design, validate the design versus specification, explore and rectify issues, prompt analysis tasks, and receive explanations in their natural language. Engineers can perform spec reviews, code reviews, test reviews, and change management reviews. Automating these activities can save hundreds of hours of individual engineering time, avoid hundreds of group meetings for specification and code reviews, and remove many bugs previously uncovered during the ramp-up to regression verification. It is in use today as a proof of concept with collaboration partners.

A Transformational Journey with AI

In conclusion, Dr. Devgan's keynote shed light on Cadence's commitment to driving innovation and advancements in the semiconductor industry. The integration of 3D-IC technology and Cadence's expertise in chip and package design promises to reshape the industry landscape. Furthermore, Cadence's focus on simulation, particularly in system-level analysis and computational biology, demonstrates their dedication to addressing the evolving needs of the industry. Cadence is investing in AI to unlock new possibilities and applications that will shape the future of technology.

As the industry embarks on this transformational journey, Cadence's partnerships, advancements, and vision for the future advance our leadership position while pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the semiconductor industry.

Learn how Cadence is using generative AI to transform the world of electronics.