China is embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to fast-track the design of processors, a significant move fueled by recent U.S. sanctions. 
The AI system, QiMeng, has been developed to streamline chip design and has already led to the creation of two processors. The first, QiMeng-CPU-v1, is comparable to the Intel i486 from 1989, while the second, QiMeng-CPU-v2, is said to rival the Arm Cortex A53, typically found in mid-range devices.
To put things into perspective, the Intel 486 is a processor from 1989, but the QiMeng-CPU-v2, if true to its claims, represents a leap of 23 years, considering the Cortex A53’s introduction in 2012. The project, led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), aims to utilize AI to design processors on par with modern standards. QiMeng’s ability to speed up chip design processes is impressive-tasks that would traditionally take human teams weeks are now being completed in days. For instance, designing a chip for autonomous vehicles, a task that would usually take weeks, can now be done in mere days.
The AI-powered system has emerged at an opportune moment for China, especially as the U.S. has pressured top Electronic Design Automation (EDA) companies like Cadence and Synopsys to halt their operations in China. Despite these pressures, companies like Synopsys are already using AI for critical chip design processes, having contributed to the development of over 200 chips. With the rise of QiMeng, China is looking to reduce reliance on foreign technologies and regain its independence in semiconductor production.
The ultimate goal behind QiMeng is not just to cut costs but also to accelerate the development cycle and improve efficiency. While the first two iterations have shown promise, all eyes are now on QiMeng v3. The next version will be the true test to see if it can produce a processor that matches the capabilities of modern designs, potentially compensating for the restrictions imposed by the U.S. sanctions on leading EDA suppliers. These suppliers, including Cadence, Synopsys, and Siemens, now face export controls that require U.S. government approval to operate in China.