AMD has agreed to acquire Taalas, a Toronto-based startup specializing in inference chips. Taalas' accelerators are designed for specific AI models, sacrificing general-purpose flexibility. This customization allows for significantly faster output compared to traditional GPUs. The company claims its technology results in less expensive chips. AMD has not disclosed the acquisition price for Taalas. Taalas has secured $219 million in venture funding since its establishment in 2023. Currently, Taalas' chip supports a smaller version of Meta's Llama 3.1 model. They are actively developing chips for larger and more advanced AI models. Taalas' technology can reportedly transform any AI model into custom silicon within two months. The startup's chips utilize SRAM memory and are manufactured using an older TSMC process.