Why is it in the News?

As the global demand for the latest AI technologies surges, one unexpected item has emerged as a highly sought-after commodity: the graphics processing unit (GPU).

What is a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)?

• A Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) is a specialized computer chip designed to efficiently render graphics and images by performing rapid mathematical calculations.
  • Widely used in both professional and personal computing, GPUs were initially developed to handle the rendering of 2D and 3D images, animations, and video content.
• Similar to a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a GPU is an integral component of computing devices.
  • However, the primary distinction lies in the GPU's specialized design to handle and accelerate graphics workloads and display graphics content on devices like PCs or smartphones.
• While a typical modern CPU consists of between 8 and 16 "cores" that process complex tasks sequentially, GPUs contain thousands of smaller cores.
  • These cores are engineered to work simultaneously ("in parallel") to achieve fast overall processing, making GPUs ideal for tasks involving numerous simple operations that can be executed concurrently.
• GPUs operate using a technique called parallel processing, where multiple processors manage separate parts of a single task.
  • They also possess their own dedicated RAM to store and process large amounts of data for graphics-intensive applications.
    • In graphics applications, the CPU sends instructions to the GPU for drawing graphics content on the screen.
    • The GPU then executes these instructions in parallel at high speeds, displaying the content on the device—a process known as the graphics or rendering pipeline.
• Modern GPUs have expanded beyond their traditional role in graphics rendering and are now employed in various applications such as creative content production, video editing, high-performance computing (HPC), and artificial intelligence (AI).
  • By offloading graphics-related tasks from the CPU, GPUs enable fast and smooth rendering of content on computer screens.
  • As technology continues to advance, the applications of GPUs will likely expand even further, solidifying their position as an essential component in the computing landscape.