26. February 2026
Sambanova Unveils Revolutionary Chip Boosting Ai Performance By 10 Times Over Existing Tech
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has led to a surge in innovation and investment across various industries. One such development that has garnered significant attention is SambaNova’s introduction of its new AI accelerator, SN50 chip, which boasts impressive performance and efficiency compared to its competitors.
SambaNova’s SN50 Chip: A Breakthrough in AI Acceleration
The SN50 chip is a significant innovation in the field of AI acceleration, designed to cater to the growing demand for efficient inference workloads. According to SambaNova, the SN50 chip offers three times more efficiency than Nvidia’s B200, making it an attractive option for companies looking to deploy large-scale AI models.
The dual-chiplet processor is based on SambaNova’s Reconfigurable Data Unit (RDU) architecture, which features a three-tier memory subsystem comprising SRAM, HBM, and DDR5. This design enables the SN50 chip to optimize memory usage, reducing power consumption while maintaining high performance.
In contrast to traditional GPU-based systems, the SN50 chip delivers five times more compute per accelerator and four times the networking bandwidth. This translates to improved cost-per-token economics, making it an attractive option for companies seeking to deploy large-scale AI models without breaking the bank.
The SN50 Chip’s Performance: A Benchmark Comparison
To demonstrate the performance of the SN50 chip, SambaNova conducted a benchmark test using SemiAnalysis’s InferenceX benchmark. The results showed that the SN50 chip outperformed Nvidia’s B200 in terms of throughput per-RDU, with an average advantage of approximately 3X when latency constraints were applied.
The comparison was conducted across various configurations, including Llama 70B, GPT-OSS 120B, and DeepSeek 671B. These models are commonly used in AI applications such as natural language processing, computer vision, and reinforcement learning.
SambaNova’s Partnership with Intel: A Strategic Alliance
In a significant move, SambaNova has partnered with Intel to deploy its SN50 chip on Intel Xeon platforms. This partnership aims to build large-scale AI inference infrastructure around Intel Xeon processors and SambaNova AI accelerators.
The joint effort between Intel and SambaNova targets select applications and types of customers, including AI inference solutions for AI-native companies, model providers, as well as enterprises and government organizations worldwide. The partnership complements Intel’s existing GPU roadmap rather than replacing it, ensuring that both companies cater to the diverse needs of their customers.
The pact with SoftBank: Expanding SambaNova’s Reach
SambaNova has also announced a deal with SoftBank to deploy its SN50 chip in the latter’s next-generation AI data centers in Japan. This partnership will enable SoftBank to deliver low-latency inference for sovereign and enterprise customers across Asia-Pacific, running open-source and proprietary frontier models with strict performance requirements.
The move expands SambaNova’s existing partnership with SoftBank, which already operates SambaCloud in the region. The new clusters based on the SN50 will be standard for SoftBank’s upcoming large-scale agentic deployments in the region, positioning SambaNova as a key player in the AI inference market.
$350 Million in Series E Funding: Securing SambaNova’s Future
To support its growth and expansion plans, SambaNova has secured $350 million in strategic Series E funding from investors such as Vista Equity Partners, Cambium Capital, Intel Capital, and Battery Ventures. This investment will enable the company to expand manufacturing and cloud capacity, further solidifying its position in the AI inference market.
SambaNova’s introduction of its new AI accelerator, SN50 chip, has generated significant excitement within the AI industry. With its impressive performance and efficiency, the SN50 chip is poised to revolutionize the way companies deploy large-scale AI models. The partnership with Intel and SoftBank further reinforces SambaNova’s position as a leading player in the AI inference market.
As the demand for efficient AI acceleration continues to grow, it will be interesting to see how SambaNova navigates the evolving landscape of AI innovation. With its innovative approach and strategic partnerships, SambaNova is well-equipped to address the challenges and opportunities ahead, cementing its position as a major force in the AI industry.
The SN50 chip’s breakthrough performance and efficiency make it an attractive option for companies seeking to deploy large-scale AI models without breaking the bank. As the demand for efficient AI acceleration continues to grow, SambaNova’s innovative approach is likely to resonate with customers worldwide.
In the world of AI, innovation is a continuous process, and SambaNova’s introduction of its SN50 chip is just one example of this trend. With Intel and SoftBank on board, SambaNova is poised to take the lead in the AI inference market, offering companies a scalable and efficient solution for their AI needs.
The future of AI acceleration looks bright with SambaNova at the forefront, driving innovation and pushing the boundaries of what is possible. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be exciting to see how SambaNova’s SN50 chip and its partners shape the future of AI.