Neural Processing Unit (NPU)

May 9, 2024

Recently, Apple company debuted the M4 chip with the iPad Pro and the most prominent change in this chip is the 16-core Neural Engine, which is Apple’s term for Neural Processing Unit (NPU).

About Neural Processing Unit (NPU):

  • It is a dedicated processor designed specifically for accelerating neural network processes.
  • A neural network is essentially a type of machine learning algorithm that mimics the human brain for processing data.
  • It is highly capable for handling machine learning operations that form the basis for AI-related tasks, such as speech recognition, natural language processing, photo or video editing processes like object detection, and more.
  • In most consumer-facing gadgets such as smartphones, laptops and tablets, the NPU is integrated within the main processor, adopting a System-on-Chip (SoC) configuration.

How is NPU different from Central Processing Unit (CPU)?

  • CPUs employ a sequential computing method, issuing one instruction at a time, with subsequent instructions awaiting the completion of their predecessors.
  • In contrast, NPU harnesses parallel computing to simultaneously execute numerous calculations. This parallel computing approach results in swifter and more efficient processing.
  • NPU is also able to learn based on accumulated data in order to deduce optimal solutions.