According to AIbase, as the artificial intelligence wave shifts from the virtual world to real-world applications, "Physical AI" is becoming a new hotspot for capital. On Tuesday, Ethernovia, a semiconductor startup based in San Jose, announced a $90 million Series B funding round, marking that investors are now focusing on the behind-the-scenes hardware suppliers supporting the deployment of robotics and autonomous driving.
Currently, the billions of dollars flowing into the AI field are undergoing structural shifts. Investors have realized that to achieve breakthroughs in robotics and autonomous driving technologies, it's not only about powerful algorithms but also about hardware infrastructure capable of processing massive real-time data.
Ethernovia is a key link in this chain. The company's high-performance ethernet-based processors play the role of the system's "nerve fibers":
Data Aggregation: Efficiently collects various sensor data from distributed sources in autonomous vehicles or robot systems.
Ultra-fast Transmission: Ensures information is transmitted with minimal latency to the central computer, enabling real-time decisions in milliseconds.
This funding round was led by Maverick Silicon. Notably, this fund is the first industry-specific fund launched by the long-standing hedge fund Maverick Capital in its 30-year history, highlighting its emphasis on the AI hardware sector.
In addition, Ethernovia's existing shareholder list is impressive, including:Porsche SE: Representing the demand of traditional automotive giants for next-generation vehicle network architectures.Qualcomm Ventures: Demonstrating the strategic layout of a mobile computing leader in physical AI infrastructure.
