Cerebras, a leading player in AI hardware, has introduced a groundbreaking AI inference chip that’s being hailed as a major competitor to Nvidia’s DGX100.
This new chip, equipped with 44GB of ultra-fast memory, is capable of handling some of the largest AI models ever created. With its blazing speed and efficient memory, the Cerebras chip is set to revolutionize AI development and deployment.
The Power of 44GB Memory for AI Models
One of the most impressive features of the Cerebras chip is its ability to handle AI models containing billions or even trillions of parameters. This makes it a powerful alternative to Nvidia’s DGX100, which is widely regarded as one of the best AI processing systems.
While Nvidia remains a leader, Cerebras’ new chip is designed to provide faster processing and more accurate outputs.
For even larger models that surpass the memory of a single wafer, Cerebras has developed a unique system that can split these models at layer boundaries. This allows developers to distribute models across multiple Cerebras CS-3 systems, enhancing the flexibility of AI model deployment.
A single CS-3 system can handle 20 billion parameter models, while a cluster of four CS-3 systems can manage models up to 70 billion parameters.
Superior Precision with 16-bit Model Weights
Cerebras emphasizes the importance of precision in AI model processing. Unlike some of its competitors who use 8-bit model weights, which can lead to performance degradation, Cerebras uses 16-bit model weights to ensure better accuracy.
According to the company, models using 16-bit precision perform up to 5% better in tasks involving multi-turn conversations, mathematical problems, and reasoning. This results in more reliable and precise AI outputs.
Unmatched Speed and Free Access for Developers
The speed of the Cerebras inference platform is another highlight, particularly when it comes to large language models (LLMs). The platform can run Llama3.1 models with 70 billion parameters at an incredible speed of 450 tokens per second.
This makes it the fastest solution for large models, enabling real-time AI processing and interaction. The platform’s speed is especially critical for more complex AI workflows that involve scaffolding, where multiple AI models interact to generate more sophisticated responses.
Cerebras is offering 1 million free tokens per day at launch to support the AI developer community, allowing developers to test the platform without cost.
Additionally, the platform integrates easily with OpenAI’s Chat Completions format, meaning developers can start using it with minimal effort. Cerebras promises highly competitive pricing for larger deployments compared to popular GPU-based cloud services.
More Model Support on the Horizon
Cerebras is not stopping with the launch of the Llama3.1 8B and 70B models. The company has plans to expand support for even larger models, such as the Llama3 405B and Mistral Large 2, shortly. This expansion will further solidify Cerebras’ position as a leader in AI inference and large language models.
Revolutionizing AI Agent Workflows
One of the most exciting applications of the Cerebras chip is its potential impact on AI agent workflows. In scenarios where multiple AI agents interact with one another, such as in automated AI pipelines, speed is critical.
If each agent’s output takes several seconds, the overall process slows down considerably. With Cerebras’ superfast inference capabilities, these interactions can happen almost instantaneously, making complex AI systems more efficient and scalable.
Patrick Kennedy, from ServeTheHome, witnessed a live demo of the chip at the Hot Chips 2024 symposium. He noted, “It is obscenely fast. The speed of this system is not just beneficial for direct human interaction but also for machine-to-machine interactions.”
A New Standard for Open LLM Development
Cerebras is positioning its platform as a game-changer in the AI industry, offering unmatched performance, open access, and a lower-cost solution for developers. With easy-to-use API integration and industry-leading processing speed, the Cerebras AI inference chip could set a new benchmark for large AI models and real-time applications.
