Leveraging Generative AI for Rapid Design and Verification of a Vector Processor SoC

In the era where the pace of Moore's law is decelerating, specialized hardware emerges as the new frontier to sustain exponential growth in computing performance. This paper presents a novel approach to chip design, harnessing the power of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) to expedite the design and verification of a Vector Processor System on Chip (SoC). With the advent of open-source ASIC toolchains like OpenROAD and Process Design Kits (PDKs) such as SKY130, the landscape of chip fabrication has been democratized, allowing even small entities and hobbyists to venture into custom chip production. Despite this accessibility, the complexity of design and verification stands as a formidable challenge. Our work introduces a generative AI methodology that streamlines the creation and validation processes of SoCs. By leveraging AI-generated hardware, we aim to minimize the iterative cycles of design and testing, reduce errors, and shorten time-to-market for custom chip solutions. We discuss the implications of this approach for the industry and provide a case study on the rapid development of a Vector Processor SoC to illustrate the practical benefits and potential of AI-assisted chip design.