Meta Platforms, Inc. is planning to acquire Rivos, a chip startup based in Santa Clara, California, in a strategic move to enhance its semiconductor capabilities internally. The social media giant is focusing its efforts on advancing the design of chips based on the RISC-V architecture, a popular open-source alternative to those developed by Arm, Intel, and AMD. Although the financial details of the acquisition have not been disclosed, and Rivos has yet to comment, this move underscores Meta’s commitment to cutting-edge technology.
Yee Jiun Song, Meta’s vice president of engineering, noted in a LinkedIn post that the acquisition of Rivos, a startup known for its expertise in full‑stack AI systems, will significantly contribute to the expansion of Meta’s Meta Training and Inference Accelerator (MTIA) project. This acquisition also aligns with Meta’s strategic focus on developing and deploying their custom-built chip accelerators.
Recent reports suggested that Rivos was close to securing new funding at an approximate $2 billion valuation, underscoring the company’s potential and appeal. Notably, Meta has been a major customer of Rivos and has been discussing a potential deal with the startup for some time. This acquisition is part of Meta’s broader strategy to reduce infrastructure costs tied to its investments in advanced AI tools and systems, a necessity as the company has historically relied on sought-after AI chips from Nvidia.
This move by Meta is part of a larger trend in the tech industry, where companies are increasingly developing in-house solutions to gain a competitive edge and lessen reliance on third-party vendors. By acquiring Rivos, Meta continues to bolster its capabilities in semiconductor technology, a critical component as it aims to improve and expand its AI operations.
Looking ahead, this acquisition could potentially reduce costs and enhance efficiency for Meta, impacting not only its platforms like Facebook and Instagram but also its broader technological capabilities. As Meta ventures further into the semiconductor space, it marks a significant step in its evolution from a social media giant to a tech powerhouse, reinforcing its long-term strategic goals in the AI landscape.