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What is a TPU?
A TPU is a chip made by Google that is designed to run AI math quickly, mostly inside Google's own data centers.
- Category Hardware
- Also called tensor processing unit
- Updated 20 Oct 2026
TPU, explained simply
TPU stands for tensor processing unit. Google designed it to speed up the math that AI models need.
A GPU was first made for graphics and then used for AI. A TPU was built for AI work from the start.
You mostly meet TPUs behind the scenes. When you use a Google AI product, TPUs may be doing the work in a data center.
On ITG Now, our daily AI news stories sometimes mention which kind of chips a company uses to train its models.
Related terms
GPUAI chipData centerComputeCPUInference
Where you'll see it on ITG Now
Questions people ask about TPU
TPU vs GPU: what is the difference?
A GPU is a general chip used for graphics and AI. A TPU is a chip made mainly for AI math.
Can I buy a TPU for my home computer?
Not in the usual way. TPUs are mostly used inside Google's data centers or rented through its cloud.
Who makes TPUs?
Google designs them. They are used in Google's own products and offered to cloud customers.