Groq is an American artificial intelligence (AI) company specializing in the development of high-performance AI hardware and software solutions. Founded in 2016 by Jonathan Ross, a former Google engineer instrumental in designing the Tensor Processing Unit (TPU), Groq aims to revolutionize AI processing through its innovative technologies.
Central to Groq's offerings is its proprietary Language Processing Unit (LPU), an AI accelerator application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) designed to enhance the inference performance of AI workloads. The LPU architecture provides deterministic performance with low latency, enabling rapid and consistent data processing. This technology is particularly advantageous for applications such as large language models, image classification, anomaly detection, and predictive analysis.
In recent developments, Groq has made significant strides in the AI hardware industry. In August 2024, the company secured $640 million in funding, elevating its valuation to $2.8 billion. This investment, led by BlackRock, is intended to bolster Groq's production capabilities and challenge existing market leaders in AI hardware.
Further expanding its global footprint, Groq announced a $1.5 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia in February 2025. This partnership aims to enhance the delivery of Groq's advanced AI chips within the region, contributing to the development of a significant AI hub in collaboration with Aramco Digital, a subsidiary of Saudi Aramco.
Groq's headquarters are located in Mountain View, California, with additional offices in San Jose, California; Liberty Lake, Washington; Toronto, Canada; and London, United Kingdom. The company also employs remote staff across North America and Europe, reflecting its commitment to a diverse and distributed workforce.
Through its cutting-edge technology and strategic partnerships, Groq is poised to make a substantial impact on the AI industry, offering solutions that cater to the growing demand for efficient and scalable AI processing capabilities.
