Malaysia’s SkyeChip enters the AI race, but who will be its running mate?

Malaysia has announced its first home-made AI chip – a processor designed by SkyeChip – but experts warn that surviving the perils of making and selling chips in an age of global tech competition may be just as hard as achieving that breakthrough.

SkyeChip, based in Malaysia’s tech hub of Penang, on Monday unveiled its AI processor, which can be used to power anything from data centres to digital in-car systems and robots.

The invention potentially opens the door to the Southeast Asian nation’s vital semiconductor industry rising up the value chain from pure back-end manufacturing.