Microsoft-backed Silicon Valley startup d-Matrix has launched its first artificial intelligence chip aimed at cutting costs and increasing energy efficiency.

Santa Clara, California-based d-Matrix unveiled its Corsair chip on Tuesday and said customers were testing samples ahead of a full release next year.

This aimed to make generative AI "commercially viable," chief executive Sid Sheth commented, with Corsair said to be three times as efficient as rivals.

"We saw transformers and generative AI coming, and founded d-Matrix to address inference challenges around the largest computing opportunity of our time," he added.

D-matrix in September secured backing from Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) and has raised $160 million in funding to date.

Its chips are designed to handle large numbers of requests from end users, complementing the likes of Nvidia Corp products used in training AI models.

"D-Matrix's compute platform radically changes the ability for enterprises to access infrastructure [...] without the energy constraints and latency concerns that have held AI back," Microsoft venture fund managing partner Michael Stewart added.

"D-Matrix is democratizing access to the hardware needed to power AI in standard form factor to make Gen AI finally attainable for everyone."