Generative AI-Assisted Project Prepares Students for Careers in Chip Design | CSUF News

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Computer science graduate student Akshat Desai is using artificial intelligence tools to gain hands-on experience in chip design to prepare for a career in the semiconductor industry.

For the first time, Cal State Fullerton students are learning generative AI-assisted chip design, funded by a $150,000 grant from the California Education Learning Lab.

The university is among 25 recipients of the California Education Learning Lab’s AI FAST Challenge: Funding for Accelerated Study and Transformation, which supports research and projects using generative AI for teaching and learning.

“Chip design combines software and hardware and is the backbone of modern technology. Every smartphone, laptop, household appliance and self-driving car runs on chips,” Desai said. “With the growing demand for faster, cheaper and more power-efficient chips, we need more engineers who understand this field.”

Integrated circuits — nanoscale semiconductor devices — serve as the brains of most electronic systems, powering everything from consumer products to defense and space exploration technologies.

CSUF’s project aims to promote inclusion in semiconductor research and workforce readiness in this rapidly growing sector, which offers high-paying job opportunities, said Rakesh Mahto, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, who is co-directing the project.

Kiran George, associate dean for graduate programs, faculty research and innovation in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and professor of electrical and computer engineering, is co-director.

As semiconductor manufacturing expands in the U.S., there is a rising demand for skilled engineers who can design and optimize microchips — the physical components used in electronic devices, Mahto said.

Mahto said chip design is like creating a highly detailed blueprint for a nanoscale city — every transistor, wire and logic block must be precisely planned. 

“The final chip is the physical realization of that blueprint, manufactured using advanced fabrication technologies,” he said.

The project will engage a total of 30 students from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in two eight-week immersive summer research experiences, the first beginning this June. Students can then participate in a yearlong, faculty-directed research program focused on chip design. 

“Students will gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge technologies and industry-standard tools and develop critical problem-solving skills and a deep understanding of the chip design process — from conceptualization to implementation,” Mahto said.

Plans include developing open educational resources using generative AI-assisted chip design, which will be integrated into courses to enhance student learning outcomes. Generative AI, such as ChatGPT, can create content such as text and images, based on human inputs or prompts. 

George said the initiative introduces students to generative AI-assisted chip design through open-access AI tools. These tools can help students grasp and analyze complex problems more effectively, enabling them to design chips more efficiently.

“Instead of struggling with complex coding, students can use AI to refine and troubleshoot code, making it easier to understand the programming side of chip design, thereby lowering barriers to entering the semiconductor workforce,” George added.

Desai, interested in pursuing a doctorate in generative AI-assisted chip design, is excited about the opportunity to contribute to technological innovations.

“This project is about creating something meaningful that could shape the future of chip design and meet the growing demands of the semiconductor industry,” he said.