New TPU variant optimized for ultra-long-context AI applications.
Google has added two variants to its eighth-generation TPU lineup: TPU 8tx, which keeps confidential data encrypted during processing, and TPU 8i Max, which doubles memory and compute per rack by pairing two chips in a single package. Alongside software such as TorchTPU, Google is lowering the barrier for developers and marketing its in-house silicon to external customers for everyday inference.
Google is expanding its custom TPU lineup with two new chips: TPU 8tx for confidential computing and TPU 8i Max for ultra-long-context AI workloads, bringing the family to four products. Both are reconfigured rather than fully redesigned silicon, with 8tx designed to work alongside AMD chips. Google's chip chief said iteration has accelerated well beyond the previous two-year cadence as the company seeks to capitalize on Nvidia's supply constraints.