Meta acquires RISC-V chip startup Rivos to reduce Nvidia dependence

Meta is acquiring chip startup Rivos, a RISC-V architecture specialist backed by Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan, according to sources familiar with the matter. The deal represents Meta’s continued push to reduce its reliance on expensive Nvidia chips by developing in-house semiconductor capabilities for its AI infrastructure.

What you should know: Meta has been one of Rivos’ biggest customers and had been in discussions about a potential acquisition.

• The Santa Clara-based startup focuses on designing chips based on RISC-V architecture, an open-source alternative to traditional architectures from Arm, Intel, and AMD.
• Deal terms remain undisclosed, and neither Meta nor Rivos responded to requests for comment.
• Rivos was reportedly seeking new funding at an over $2 billion valuation as of August.

The big picture: This acquisition fits into Meta’s broader strategy to cut infrastructure costs related to AI development and reduce dependence on third-party chip suppliers.

• Meta exclusively tested its first in-house chip for training AI systems in March, marking a significant step toward semiconductor independence.
• The company has spent heavily on sought-after AI chips from Nvidia to power its advanced AI tools across Instagram and Facebook.

Why this matters: By bringing Rivos’ RISC-V expertise in-house, Meta gains greater control over its AI chip development timeline and specifications while potentially achieving significant cost savings on its massive AI infrastructure investments.