NXP buys edge AI chip developer Kinara

NXP is continuing its acquisition spree with Kinara, a California-based developer of neural processing units (NPUs) for artificial intelligence workloads at the network edge. The acquisition will be an all-cash transaction valued at 307 million dollars and is expected to close in the first half of 2025.

Kinara’s portfolio includes the Ara-1 NPU, capable of advanced AI inferencing at the edge, and the 40-TOPS Ara-2 for generative AI. Kinara also provides a complete software development kit enabling customers to optimize AI model performance and streamline deployment.

“The industrial market is going through a transformation, with innovations like generative AI helping to deliver major improvements in efficiency, sustainability, safety and predictability, and in many instances, unlock new use cases and functionality. Adding Kinara’s AI capabilities to our broad intelligent edge portfolio creates a scalable platform for new classes of AI-powered systems,” comments Rafael Sotomayor, general manager Secure Connected Edge at NXP.

NXP appears to be following an anti-cyclical investment strategy, having recently acquired automotive connectivity specialist Aviva Links and Austrian automotive software outfit TTTech Auto, even though the firm is experiencing stubborn headwinds.