Intel and Qualcomm have the largest share of the chip market, but some companies are trying to weaken their dependence on these institutions. All that Facebook has done is to reduce the reliance on Intel and Qualcomm.
The recruitment information on the Facebook site shows that the company is hiring a manager to build an end-to-end SoC/ASIC, firmware and driver development organization. However, Facebook’s plan to build its own chips is still in its infancy.
Facebook will work with other tech giants to develop their own chips. In 2010, Apple began to launch its own chips and used them in many major product lines. Google, which is part of Alphabet, has also developed its own artificial intelligence chips.
Some people speculate that Facebook is planning to implant new custom chips into consumer products. New chips may also be used to process artificial intelligence software, which is the area that the company is currently unfamiliar with.
The report also mentions Facebook’s upcoming smart speakers. Although this does not mean that the company will use its own chips on this device, it does imply that the company may improve its existing product line sometime in the future.
Facebook is developing a series of smart speakers. These future devices may be improved through custom chip sets. By using their own chips, the company will be able to better control product development and better coordinate software and hardware.