While TPUs are most closely associated with TensorFlow due to their tight integration and optimization for TensorFlow operations, they can indeed be effectively integrated with other AI frameworks.
Support for Other Frameworks:
- JAX: Besides TensorFlow, TPUs are also supported by JAX, a high-performance library for machine learning and scientific computing. JAX provides APIs for defining and training neural networks and supports automatic differentiation and acceleration on TPUs[1][2].
- PyTorch: Google Cloud TPUs now support PyTorch, allowing users to leverage TPUs for PyTorch-based projects. This integration enables PyTorch users to benefit from the performance and scalability of TPUs for large AI workloads[3][5].
Integration Challenges and Opportunities:
- While TPUs are primarily available through Google Cloud Platform (GCP), their integration with frameworks like PyTorch and JAX expands their usability beyond TensorFlow. However, the ecosystem and community support for TPUs are more centralized around Google's services compared to GPUs, which have broader support across various frameworks and vendors[1][3].
- For frameworks not natively supported by TPUs, such as Keras or MXNet, integration might require additional setup or using a supported framework like TensorFlow as a backend[6].
Overall, TPUs can be integrated with other AI frameworks, but their full potential is often realized within the Google ecosystem, particularly with TensorFlow and JAX. Recent developments have made TPUs more versatile by supporting PyTorch, which broadens their applicability across different frameworks.
Citations:[1] https://www.datacamp.com/blog/tpu-vs-gpu-ai
[2] https://www.wevolver.com/article/tpu-vs-gpu-in-ai-a-comprehensive-guide-to-their-roles-and-impact-on-artificial-intelligence
[3] https://cloud.google.com/tpu
[4] https://bizety.com/2023/01/03/ai-chips-npu-vs-tpu/
[5] https://pytorch.org/xla/release/r2.6/accelerators/tpu.html
[6] https://www.upwork.com/resources/top-machine-learning-frameworks
[7] https://arxiv.org/pdf/2309.08918.pdf
[8] https://clockwise.software/blog/artificial-intelligence-framework/