加利福尼亚州帕洛阿尔托——芯片设计软件领袖Synopsys表示，尽管华盛顿对人工智能和半导体出口的管控日益严格，但该公司仍计划通过与中国的大语言模型（LLM）构建者合作，利用其工具的AI版本帮助中国企业更快开发芯片。
PALO ALTO, California -- Chip design software leader Synopsys says it is looking to help Chinese companies develop chips faster with an AI version of its tools by working with large language model (LLM) builders in China, despite Washington's tightening controls on AI and semiconductor exports.
该软件公司于9月30日宣布与ChatGPT的创建者OpenAI达成多年合作协议，开发GPT‑Synopsys，这是一种专门用于自动化和加速芯片设计过程的AI模型。
The software maker announced a multi-year deal with ChatGPT creator OpenAI on Sept. 30 to develop GPT-Synopsys, a specialized AI model that automates and speeds up the chip design process.
Synopsys首席产品管理官Ravi Subramanian在接受《日经亚洲》采访时表示，公司将探索与中国AI实验室的合作，以在中国开发类似的工具。
Ravi Subramanian, Synopsys' chief product management officer, told Nikkei Asia that the company will look into exploring partnerships with Chinese AI labs to develop similar tools for China.
近年来，公司面临压力，AI被视为可能取代其传统电子设计自动化（EDA）软件的主要优势。
The company has come under pressure in recent years, with AI seen as potentially replacing the traditional electronic design automation (EDA) software that has been its main strength.
但在9月30日的年度投资者日上，这家总部位于加州的公司表示，预计2027财年收入将同比增长15%，达到111.5亿美元，这得益于AI已被整合到其自有工具中。
But at its annual investor day on Sept. 30, the California-based company said it expected fiscal 2027 revenue to grow 15% year on year to $11.15 billion, thanks to AI being incorporated into its own tools.
公司与OpenAI的合作，以及与亚马逊价值超过10亿美元的协议——帮助全球最大的云服务提供商设计其定制的数据中心芯片——都表明其正试图将AI从威胁转化为新的收入来源。
The company's partnership with OpenAI, together with a deal worth more than $1 billion with Amazon to help the world's biggest cloud service provider design its own customized data center chip, are an indication of how it is trying to turn AI from a threat into new revenue streams.
Subramanian指出，芯片制造商需要新的AI驱动的芯片设计工具，例如Synopsys与OpenAI共同开发的工具，以跟上对AI训练和部署日益增长的需求，这需要更快地更新更强大的芯片。
Chipmakers needed new AI-enabled chip design tools, such as the one codeveloped by Synopsys and OpenAI, to keep up with the increasing demand for AI training and deployment that required faster updates to more powerful chips, argued Subramanian.
“我们看到芯片的研发速度在迅速加快，意味着在一年内完成芯片设计……而且我们看到芯片的数量在不断增加，”他说。
"We are seeing a rapidly accelerating pace of chips, meaning complete a chip design within one year ... and we are seeing an increasing number of chips," he said.
根据双方的安排，OpenAI将提供模型以及最高2亿美元的计算资源，而Synopsys则提供工具和芯片设计专业知识。双方将在客户使用该服务时分摊收入。
OpenAI will supply the model and up to $200 million worth of computing power under their arrangement, while Synopsys supplies the tools and chip design expertise. They will each take a share of revenue as customers use the service.
在一个例子中，客户可以提交一段硬件代码，并要求开发出一个符合特定功耗要求的版本。随后，GPT模型与Synopsys的软件会共同协作来完成这项任务。
In one example, a customer could hand over a block of hardware code and ask for a version that meets a specific power target. The GPT model and Synopsys' software then work together on it.
Subramanian表示，虽然可以为中国市场提供类似的服务（但需要更换不同的大型语言模型（LLM）合作伙伴），不过由于OpenAI多年来一直禁止中国大陆、香港和澳门地区的用户使用其服务，因此这一计划暂时无法实现。
Subramanian said it was "possible" to offer a similar service for the China market, but with a different LLM partner, with OpenAI having blocked access for users in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau for a number of years.
Synopsys本身也面临着美国政府对其在中国开展业务的一系列限制，其中包括对向被列入所谓“实体名单”的公司出口芯片设计工具的限制。
Synopsys already faces its own set of restrictions from the U.S. government on doing business in China, including limits on exports of chip design tools to companies on the so-called entity list.
Subramanian说：“我们必须遵守美国政府的相关规定；无论我们做什么，都会严格遵守这些规定。”
"There are a set of U.S. government rules that we have to adhere to, and whatever we do, we will adhere to those in terms of expanding whatever we're doing," Subramanian said.
截至7月31日的三个月内，Synopsys在中国市场的收入为2.555亿美元，同比增长3%，占其总收入的约10%。
For the three months ended July 31, Synopsys reported revenue of $255.5 million for China, up 3% on the year and accounting for about 10% of its total revenue.
Subramanian表示：“我们认为中国拥有自身的增长动力；尤其是物理AI领域（如人形机器人和其他机器人技术）的快速发展，为Synopsys在中国市场提供了更多的发展机会。”
"We think China has its own dynamic for growth," said Subramanian, adding that a boom in physical AI, such as humanoids and other robotics technology, is offering more opportunities for Synopsys to grow in the country.