NPU: What is it and why is it gaining importance in semiconductor industry

Apple debuted the M4 chip with the iPad Pro on May 7. While Apple stated significant improvements in chip’s overall performance, the most prominent change in the M4 is the 16-core Neural Engine, which is Apple’s term for Neural Processing Unit (NPU). Apple called the M4 an “outrageously powerful chip for AI.” It is the improvements in the NPU that is backing Apple’s claim of the M4 being significantly more powerful than any other chip powering an AI PC. So, what exactly is NPU and why is it gaining prominence in the chip industry? Let us find out: