Google Drops RISC-V Support from Android Kernel, Impacting Chinese Chip Vendors Targeting Android Systems

A recent development by Google has removed support for RISC-V from the Android kernel, which will have an impact on chip vendors targeting Android systems and devices. While this change is not expected to have a significant global impact, as most companies designing chips around RISC-V do not focus on Android devices, there are over 300 companies using RISC-V in China. Major technology players such as Alibaba Cloud, Huawei Technologies and ZTE support the standard.

RISC-V International, a non-profit group promoting RISC-V technology, has more than half of its premier members from China, including Alibaba Cloud, Huawei Technologies and ZTE. Other premier members include Google, Intel and Qualcomm. Companies that have already invested in RISC-V support for Android are expected to continue with their projects, although there is still a lot of work ahead.

Alibaba’s Damo Academy is expanding its XuanTie series of processors for various applications. StarFive Technology, backed by Baidu, is working on RISC-V-based CPUs and plans to set up a semiconductor R&D lab in Hong Kong. Despite concerns in the US about China’s contribution to RISC-V development, the country continues to play a significant role in shaping the standard.