Google is ramping up its chip development efforts in Israel with the formation of a new engineering team dedicated to creating artificial intelligence chips for robotic and autonomous systems, as well as other edge devices. This strategic move is part of Google’s ongoing expansion in the region, which began in 2021.
Leading the new initiative is Guy Kaminitz, a former R&D executive from Israeli AI chipmaker Hailo, who will serve as the head of silicon engineering. Google is actively recruiting dozens of engineers for various roles, including chip validation, physical design, verification, automation, and machine-learning hardware architecture, underscoring the scale and ambition of this project.
The focus of the new team will be on Edge AI processors. These advanced chips enable AI applications to operate directly on devices, minimizing reliance on cloud computing. This capability is particularly valuable for applications in robots, drones, autonomous vehicles, industrial systems, smart cameras, and other connected devices.
Since 2005, Google has maintained a significant R&D presence in Israel, engaging in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing, and machine perception. The recent expansion into chip design further cements Israel’s role as a critical hub in Google’s global technology strategy.