Tensor Processing Unit

Overview

A Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) is a custom application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) designed by Google specifically to accelerate machine learning (ML) and deep learning workloads.While CPUs handle general-purpose computing and GPUs excel at parallel rendering and matrix math, TPUs are engineered from the silicon level up to optimize tensor operations—the multidimensional matrix multiplications and additions that form the backbone of neural networks.

Core Architecture & How It Works

Systolic Array Architecture:

Traditional processors fetch instructions and read/write registers for every operation. TPUs feed data directly across a grid of computational cells (a matrix multiply unit) without constantly accessing register files, drastically cutting down power use and memory bandwidth bottlenecks.

Low-Precision Arithmetic:

Deep learning training and inference typically do not require 64-bit or 32-bit floating-point precision ($FP64$ or $FP32$). TPUs rely heavily on reduced-precision formats like bfloat16 (Brain Floating Point) and INT8, allowing more operations per second while maintaining model accuracy.

High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM):

To prevent large neural networks from stalling while waiting for data, TPUs integrate high-speed memory stacks directly on or next to the chip die..

• The transistor acts like a switch. It can turn electricity on or off, or it can amplify current. It is used for example in computers to store information, or in stereo amplifiers to make the sound signal stronger.
• The resistor limits the flow of electricity and gives us the possibility to control the amount of current that is allowed to pass. Resistors are used, among other things, to control the volume in television sets or radios.
• The capacitor collects electricity and releases it all in one quick burst; like for instance in cameras where a tiny battery can provide enough energy to fire the flashbulb.
• The diode stops electricity under some conditions and allows it to pass only when these conditions change. This is used in, for example, photocells where a light beam that is broken triggers the diode to stop electricity from flowing through it.

These components are like the building blocks in an electrical construction kit. Depending on how the components are put together when building the circuit, everything from a burglar alarm to a computer microprocessor can be constructed.