What is a Compute Platform?
AI Summary
A compute platform combines hardware, software, ecosystem and architecture that creates the environment needed to run applications, workloads and services. It defines where and how computation happens by uniting. CPUs, accelerators, system IP, pre-integrated software, and developer tools into a single, validated environment. Compute platforms reduce development complexity, improve scalability, and accelerate time to deployment.
Why Compute Platforms Matter Today
Compute platforms are essential today because they provide the core infrastructure that powers modern computing, from AI systems to cloud servers and smartphones. They enable faster, more efficient, and more secure processing of massive data workloads. Modern workloads such as generative AI, real-time analytics, and computer vision require heterogeneous, efficient, and secure compute. As demand for performance and sustainability rises, compute platforms help balance power efficiency with innovation. Ultimately, they make today’s connected, intelligent world possible.
Use Cases for Compute Platforms
Cloud AI Infrastructure
Compute platforms in hyperscale data centers enable efficient training and inference of large AI models, combining CPUs, accelerators, and memory systems optimized for scalability and performance-per-watt.
Physical AI for Autonomous and Software-Defined Vehicles
Modern vehicles use compute platforms to power ADAS, infotainment, and centralized control systems, enabling real-time processing, functional safety, and seamless over-the-air (OTA) updates from a unified hardware-software architecture.
Edge AI for Industrial Automation
In smart factories, compute platforms process data locally for predictive maintenance and machine vision, reducing latency and improving reliability without cloud dependence.
The Arm Compute Platform
The Arm compute platform brings together:
- Architecture: The Arm architecture provides the foundational blueprint that unifies hardware and software to enable scalable, efficient, and secure compute for AI workloads.
- Hardware: Arm Compute Subsystems (CSS), IPs, and interconnects deliver specialized compute engines tuned for AI and general-purpose processing.
- Software: Arm empowers millions of developers across the world’s largest software ecosystem to unlock their full AI potential. It simplifies development from cloud to edge, accelerates workloads, and transforms user experiences.
- Partner Ecosystem: The Arm Partner Ecosystem is where innovation meets collaboration. Together with our partners, we are pushing the boundaries of what's possible-driving the next generation of AI experiences for everyone, and building the future of computing on Arm.
This combination enables secure, scalable AI across everything from microcontrollers to hyperscale cloud infrastructure.
Arm Compute Platform Benefits
Consistency across environments to create a : unified experience from simulation to silicon.
- Power Efficiency: Leading performance per watt across AI workloads
- Built-in Security: Hardware-level protections and system isolation
- Faster Time to Market: Pre-validated IP reduces integration friction
- Extensive Ecosystem: Supported by more than 1,000 partners and 22 million developers
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a compute platform the same as a chip?
No. A compute platform includes the chip, but also software, tooling, and integration layers to deploy it efficiently in systems.
Can I build a compute platform with Arm IP?
Yes. Arm Compute Subsystems are market-ready foundations designed to reduce silicon integration complexity and accelerate time to market.
Why not just use off-the-shelf components?
Platform-based design offers consistency, optimization, and ecosystem alignment that off-the-shelf combinations often lack.
Related Resources
Explore how Arm is reshaping compute with a platform-based approach that unifies hardware, software, and ecosystem tools to accelerate secure AI innovation at scale.
Learn how Arm Compute Subsystems (CSS) enable faster time-to-market and lower integration risk with pre-validated, customizable compute foundations for AI, automotive, cloud, and consumer devices.
Discover the full suite of Arm products powering next-gen systems, from processors to compute platforms, software, tools, and developer resources, all built to scale performance and efficiency across markets.
Related Glossary Terms
- Compute Subsystem (CSS): Pre-integrated compute blocks that accelerate time-to-silicon for Arm-based SoCs.
- Custom Silicon: Tailored silicon designs optimized for specific applications, often built using compute subsystems as a foundation.
- SoC Development: The process of designing and integrating components into a complete system-on-chip (SOC), where compute subsystems reduce complexity and risk.