Graphcore key facts
Last updated- Legal entity
- Graphcore Limited
- Headquarters
- United Kingdom (GB)
- Ownership
- Part of SoftBank Group (via acquisition)
- Founded
- 2016
- Infrastructure
- Self-hosted (Proprietary Silicon)
- Open source
- No
- US Cloud Act exposure
- Low (no US parent)
- Replaces
- NVIDIA, Intel Habana Labs, Google TPU
About Graphcore
Graphcore is a semiconductor company that has developed a new type of processor, the Intelligence Processing Unit (IPU), specifically designed for artificial intelligence and machine learning workloads. Unlike traditional GPUs, the IPU architecture is optimized for the high-parallelism and unique data requirements of modern AI models, aiming to provide significant speedups for both training and inference. The company provides a full-stack solution including silicon, systems hardware for datacenters, and a comprehensive software environment. Their technology is used across research and commercial sectors for diverse applications ranging from natural language processing to drug discovery and financial modeling. Headquartered in Bristol, UK, Graphcore represents one of Europe's most significant contributions to the global AI hardware landscape.
Alternative to
Hosting & Security
Self-hosted (Proprietary Silicon)
Key Features
Related Articles
All articlesThe First AI Act Standard Is Here: What EN 18286 Means for European AI Providers
On 19 October 2026 the European Commission published the reference to EN 18286:2026 in the Official Journal. It is the first harmonised standard under the AI Act and gives providers of high-risk AI systems a presumption of conformity for quality management. Here is what it covers and what to do next.
20 Oct 2026RegulationThe EU Cloud and AI Development Act: What CADA Means for SaaS Buyers and Vendors
On 3 June 2026 the European Commission published the Cloud and AI Development Act, the centrepiece of its Tech Sovereignty Package. It introduces four cloud sovereignty tiers and restricts foreign processing of sensitive public data. Here is what it actually changes.
12 Jun 2026Country GuidesAustria's Sovereign Software Landscape: 10 Alternatives You Should Know
Austria has quietly built a remarkable portfolio of sovereign software companies. From open-source virtualisation to AI research and encrypted document management, here are the Austrian-built tools challenging US tech giants.
25 Mar 2026