Anker unveils Thus AI chip to power earbuds first, plans wider rollout across future smart devices

Anker has announced a major step in its product strategy with the launch of its first custom chip called Thus, a processor designed to bring local artificial intelligence features to a wide range of consumer electronics. The company says the new silicon will first appear in upcoming Soundcore flagship earbuds before expanding to other Anker categories such as mobile accessories and IoT products.

The announcement signals Anker’s intention to build more advanced in house technology rather than relying entirely on third party chip suppliers. It also reflects a broader industry move toward on device AI, where products process tasks locally instead of sending data to cloud servers.

According to Anker, Thus is the world’s first neural net compute in memory AI audio chip. The company says this architecture is significantly smaller than traditional designs and consumes less power while handling complex workloads.

In conventional processors, AI models are stored in memory while computations happen elsewhere. That means data constantly moves between storage and processing units, which can increase power consumption and slow efficiency. Anker says Thus changes that approach by placing computation where the model is already stored.

Anker CEO Steven Yang explained that earlier AI chips required moving model parameters repeatedly for every inference. With Thus, the company says the model no longer needs to move, helping improve speed and efficiency.

This matters most in compact electronics where battery life, heat management and physical space are limited.

Anker says the first device category to receive Thus will be Soundcore’s upcoming flagship earbuds.

The company explained that earbuds are among the hardest devices to equip with advanced AI chips because of their extremely small size. They must operate within tight battery limits while remaining lightweight and comfortable for daily wear.

Earbuds also require always on processing for features such as call enhancement, adaptive listening and noise management. Older low power chip designs often depended on smaller neural networks with only a few hundred thousand parameters.

Anker claims Thus can support several million parameters because of its more efficient compute in memory design. That jump in processing capability could allow earbuds to run more sophisticated audio intelligence directly on device.

One of the clearest use cases Anker highlighted is voice calling. Traditional call noise cancellation systems sometimes struggle in crowded streets, transport hubs or windy outdoor areas. In such situations, background sounds may leak into calls or voices may become heavily compressed.

Anker says its upcoming earbuds using the Thus chip will combine a larger neural network with eight MEMS microphones and two bone conduction sensors. Bone conduction sensors detect vibrations from the user’s voice through physical contact, helping isolate speech from surrounding noise.

The company says this setup should deliver cleaner and clearer call audio regardless of environment. If real world performance matches the claims, it could be a notable upgrade for users who regularly take calls while commuting or working outdoors.

The premium earbuds market is highly competitive, with established players already offering advanced noise cancellation and audio tuning. Anker’s new chip based approach will likely be measured against rivals such as Apple AirPods Pro 3 and Sony WF 1000XM6 models once the products launch.

While Anker has built a strong reputation for charging accessories and affordable audio gear, custom silicon could help the company move further into premium territory where performance differentiation matters more than price alone.

Industry observers will be watching whether Thus offers measurable gains in latency, battery life, voice quality and intelligent audio features.

Based on earlier leaks referenced in reports, the first earbuds expected to feature the Thus chip could be the Liberty 5 Pro Max and Liberty 5 Pro.

Possible pricing mentioned in leaks suggests:

• Liberty 5 Pro Max at $229.99
• Liberty 5 Pro at $169.99

These details remain unofficial until Anker confirms final specifications and prices.

Anker says it will reveal full product details for the new earbuds along with additional AI powered features during Anker Day on May 21. The event is expected to provide a clearer picture of how the company plans to use local AI beyond audio products.

If Thus expands into chargers, smart home devices and mobile accessories, Anker could create an ecosystem where multiple products gain intelligent features without heavy dependence on cloud connectivity.

Custom chip development was once largely limited to the world’s biggest technology firms. In recent years, more consumer brands have started investing in their own silicon to optimize performance, control costs and create unique features.

For Anker, Thus represents more than a chip launch. It is a signal that the company wants to compete through deeper technology integration rather than accessories alone.

Success will depend on whether consumers experience meaningful improvements, not just technical claims. If calls become clearer, battery life lasts longer and AI features feel useful, Thus could become an important milestone for Anker’s future lineup.

For now, attention turns to May 21, when Anker is expected to show whether its first custom AI processor can truly change the everyday earbuds experience.