In 2021, researchers at Google Brain published a study showing that an AI system had successfully designed the layout for one of Google’s next-generation TPU (Tensor Processing Unit) chips — the same kind used to power artificial intelligence.

Normally, it takes human engineers weeks or months to complete this kind of complex chip floorplan. The AI did it in under six hours, using reinforcement learning to optimize speed, power, and area. Even more impressive? 

The AI-designed chip was actually built and deployed in Google data centers — a case of machines designing the machines that run them.