AI chip startup Tenstorrent has officially begun productizing its RISC-V CPU and AI cores as licensable intellectual property (IP), marking a significant milestone in the commercialization and broader adoption of RISC-V technology. 
The company’s first-generation RISC-V CPU, named Ascalon, delivers competitive performance in the range of 10 to 20 SPECint2006 per GHz and exemplifies Tenstorrent’s commitment to leveraging open architectures for high-performance computing.
This IP productization comes as part of Tenstorrent’s strategy to empower chip manufacturers and designers with flexible, scalable options for integrating RISC-V CPUs and AI accelerators into their semiconductor products.
The Ascalon core is a 64-bit out-of-order superscalar design that conforms to the RVA23 RISC-V architecture specification. It features advanced branch predictors, a 256-bit vector data path for enhanced parallel processing, and a high-performance memory subsystem optimized for rapid data access.
These capabilities allow Ascalon to efficiently handle demanding workloads typical in AI applications and general-purpose computing while maintaining power and area efficiency. Beyond its silicon performance, Tenstorrent differentiates itself by providing a comprehensive emulation and validation stack, enabling customers to test real workloads quickly and flexibly adjust core and cache configurations.
Post-silicon debug support with proprietary tools further streamlines hardware bring-up and software development.
This productization expands to include Tenstorrent’s AI accelerator cores, which complement the CPU offerings and create a powerful combined IP portfolio for next-generation SoCs.
Market adoption is already underway, with demonstrated use cases such as the Eagle-N automotive AI accelerator chiplet developed in collaboration with BOS Semiconductors, which targets advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) applications.
The Company approach contrasts with traditional models by offering both IP licensing and chip production, a dual path that gives the company unique insights into customer needs and architecture integration challenges.
The company also maintains robust engagement with the open-source RISC-V ecosystem, contributing tools and compliance testing suites that improve compatibility and confidence in deploying RISC-V designs globally.
Leadership Comment
Jim Keller, CEO of Tenstorrent and a veteran semiconductor architect, remarked, “Productizing Ascalon and our AI cores as licensable IP represents a pivotal step in making high-performance RISC-V computing accessible to a broad range of innovative companies. Our mission is to enable a new era of silicon innovation by providing flexible, open-architecture IP that delivers industry-leading performance and efficiency. By combining our IP expertise with real-world silicon production experience, we’re uniquely positioned to accelerate the adoption of RISC-V across diverse markets—from cloud data centers to automotive systems.”
This announcement reflects Tenstorrent’s growing influence in the semiconductor industry as the RISC-V ecosystem matures. The ability to license proven, production-ready RISC-V CPU and AI cores reduces barriers for chipmakers eager to move beyond proprietary architectures and embrace open standards that foster customization and innovation.
With partnerships including key players such as LG, and ongoing contributions to the open-source community, Tenstorrent is shaping the future landscape of AI and CPU IP technology in an increasingly heterogeneous computing world.
