Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing starts AI Hardware Design League

Students at the University of Arizona have new opportunities to show off their engineering skills with a new Artificial Intelligence Hardware Design League competition. The Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing competition kicked off with 200 registered undergrad and graduate student participants from U of A and community college and international university partners. 

During the hybrid in-person and Zoom kickoff event, students received an overview of hardware design and security and learned about the major demand for chip designers and manufacturing engineers. The participants also received an overview of the league’s design challenge and timeline as well as an introduction to the tools they will be using throughout the competition.

Dr. Liesl Folks, director of the U of A's Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing, emphasized the importance of microelectronics and the growth of the field.

“Semiconductors are everywhere in our daily lives-smartphones, laptops, tablets. The biggest potential outcome of being part of AI-HDL is that you will understand how these technologies are brought to market and that will inform all of your future career opportunities," Folks said. "It will be a stepping stone in your career no matter where you're headed.”

AI-HDL participants compete in teams of three to five members. Each team will design a digital watch using AI tools, including ChatGPT, to assist with Verilog code generation. During each design phase, teams will gradually implement more advanced features to their designs. Final designs will be evaluated by mentors, faculty partners, and industry sponsors. Competition sponsor Efabless Corporation, which manufactures custom chips, will “tapeout” and fabricate the winning designs. The winners will be announced at the end of February.