Samsung has announced a partnership with Baidu to mass produce the latter’s first cloud-to-edge artificial intelligence (AI) chip, called Kunlun, from early 2020. Edge computing allows data storage and computations which occur in the cloud to be physically closer to devices, reducing the problems of latency.

The chip will be powered by Baidu’s independently developed neural processor architecture, and will be made with Samsung’s 14-nanometer manufacturing process, Samsung said in a statement on its website on Wednesday.

The Kunlun chip, which was released by Baidu last year, is able to fulfill the requirements of various applications ranging from autonomous driving to voice recognition.

The partnership marks the first chip-making tie-up between Baidu and Samsung, under which the Chinese company will create platforms for maximizing AI performance while its South Korean partner will expand its chip producing business into high-performance computing chips designed for cloud and edge computing, according to the statement.

Baidu has homed in on AI chips to support its fast-growing cloud business, as domestic rivals such as Alibaba and Tencent also seek to enhance their capabilities in the sector.

In August, Baidu unveiled a cloud server powered by the Kunlun chip which is compatible with its open-source deep learning framework. The server can also be used for the optimization of visual, speech, natural language processing and other AI capabilities.

Contact reporter Ding Yi (yiding@caixin.com)

Related: China’s AI Chip Market Grew 50% in 2018: Report