Synopsys introduces AI agents for chip design efficiency

Synopsys introduced a new technology called AgentEngineer on Wednesday. This technology uses AI "agents" that can assist human engineers in designing computer chips. For now, these agents can perform specific tasks, like checking whether a circuit design works correctly. Synopsys is known for its software that helps in designing semiconductors. This task involves arranging billions of tiny electrical switches called transistors. Recently, the process has become more complicated. Companies like Nvidia are moving from designing single chips to creating large AI server systems with many chips. This shift means engineers must design multiple chips at the same time, which can overwhelm their teams. Sassine Ghazi, the CEO of Synopsys, spoke at the company's annual user conference in Santa Clara, California. He mentioned that the complexity of new AI computers and the rapid pace of product delivery are putting pressure on engineers. Not only do they face complicated designs, but they also need to meet tight deadlines while managing costs. Looking ahead, Synopsys plans for the AI agents to help coordinate the design of complex systems that include multiple chips and parts. Shankar Krishnamoorthy, a leader at Synopsys, emphasized that the team's research and development capacity is limited. Thus, using AI is crucial to improve productivity without needing a larger team.