Mark Papermaster on AMD’s Role in AI Transformation and the Power of Open Collaboration

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Mark Papermaster on AMD’s Role in AI Transformation and the Power of Open Collaboration

At AMD’s “Advancing AI” event in San Francisco, Chief Technology Officer Mark Papermaster talked about the future of artificial intelligence (AI) and AMD’s pivotal role in shaping it. The conversation centered on AMD’s latest advancements in AI hardware and software, as well as the critical importance of open ecosystems and developer engagement in driving innovation.

Papermaster underscored AMD’s commitment to empowering developers and fostering openness.

“Our ROCm stack for AI has been open from its inception,” he stated. “We are partnering with the community, and it’s incredibly powerful. We get tremendous feedback, which helps us improve and move forward.” This collaborative approach, he explained, is foundational to AMD’s strategy.

At the event, AMD unveiled significant updates, including the MI325 AI accelerator and enhancements to its software stack. Papermaster described these announcements as part of AMD’s broader vision to deliver adaptable, high-performance AI solutions.

“Lisa [Su, AMD CEO] always says, there’s no ‘one size fits all’ for high-performance AI applications,” he said. “We give customers flexibility to get the right solution to the right challenge.”

The conversation also touched on AMD’s collaboration with open-source platforms. Papermaster highlighted partnerships with Hugging Face and PyTorch, stressing the accessibility of over a million open AI models for developers.

“We are seeing an inflection point where the development community will bring AI to the masses,” he said. By maintaining open standards, AMD ensures that developers are not locked into proprietary ecosystems.

Papermaster also addressed the role of efficiency in AI’s evolution.

“Over the next 12 to 18 months, we’ll see a lot of learning about how to tailor models to be efficient,” he noted. Beyond this period, he predicted advancements in AI computation that will prioritize lower power consumption and streamlined models. “We are advancing that technology in an annual cadence to deliver more computing and make AI even more productive.”

A key theme throughout the discussion was AMD’s dedication to creating a seamless experience for developers. Papermaster elaborated: “Our portfolio spans from cloud to edge to PC and embedded devices. We’re enabling developers to cover all endpoints with one software stack, making it easier to bring solutions to life.”

The event also celebrated the role of community feedback in AMD’s progress.

“The developers here today are excited to support us,” Papermaster shared. This interaction underscores AMD’s belief that developers are central to AI’s transformative potential.

Looking ahead, Papermaster expressed optimism about AI’s ability to enhance productivity and improve lives.

“AI will fundamentally help us in our daily lives, and AMD is committed to leading that journey,” he concluded.

AMD’s open approach, coupled with cutting-edge hardware and software, positions the company as a key player in AI’s next chapter, fostering a collaborative ecosystem where innovation thrives.