Embedder & Verkor: AI Designs, Tests Chip Firmware

Embedder and Verkor are partnering to advance AI in chip development. An AI agent recently designed a RISC-V CPU core in about 12 hours. Now, this AI agent is writing and testing its firmware on actual silicon. Embedder, an AI coding agent for firmware, is joining forces with Verkor, known for its autonomous chip design system called Conductor. This collaboration aims to connect AI-driven silicon design with AI-driven firmware development. Together, they cover the entire process, from written specifications to verified embedded software. Historically, new silicon has always awaited software. Embedder builds the necessary code, drivers, and reference firmware from scratch, then tests it on real silicon. Verkor’s Conductor produced the VerCore, a complete RISC-V CPU core, from a 219-word prompt in roughly 12 hours. This core operates at 1.48 GHz in simulation and has a CoreMark score of 3,261. This partnership significantly speeds up building and validating fully working systems, potentially reducing development time from years to days.