Neural Processing Unit (NPU)

/ˈnjʊrəl ˈprɒsɛsɪŋ ˈjuːnɪt/

A Neural Processing Unit (NPU) is a specialized hardware designed to accelerate machine learning tasks, particularly those involving neural networks. NPUs are optimized for the high computational demands of deep learning algorithms, providing significant improvements in speed and energy efficiency compared to traditional CPUs and GPUs. They are characterized by their ability to handle parallel processing and large-scale matrix operations, which are essential for training and inference in deep learning models. Common use cases for NPUs include real-time image and speech recognition, autonomous driving, and various applications in edge computing where low latency is crucial.