TPUsid

TPUsid is a standardized identification scheme introduced in 2024 for Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) devices manufactured by leading semiconductor firms. Its primary purpose is to provide a globally unique identifier that encapsulates key metadata about each TPU, including generation, variant, firmware revision, and manufacturing batch. The scheme is defined by the International Semiconductor Identification Authority (ISIA) and is adopted by major GPU and TPU vendors to streamline device traceability, supply chain management, and lifecycle support.

The TPUsid format is a 192-bit string encoded in hexadecimal. The first 32 bits represent the device family, the next 32 bits encode the production year and week, followed by 32 bits for the silicon revision, 32 bits for the firmware version, and the final 64 bits contain a hash of the device's manufacturing data and a random nonce. This structure allows third‑party software to verify authenticity and detect counterfeit units simply by parsing the identifier without accessing proprietary back‑end services.

Adoption of TPUsid has been driven by increasing concerns over supply‑chain security and regulatory compliance in high‑performance computing environments. In 2025, the European Union adopted a directive that mandated the use of TEIDs (TPU Identification Documents) for all critical infrastructure devices, and TPUsid became the de‑facto standard for such documents. Software developers can query the TPUsid via a vendor‑specific API, enabling automated firmware updates, performance monitoring, and warranty management.

Overall, TPUsid represents a collaborative effort to bring uniformity and enhanced security to the rapidly growing ecosystem of AI‑accelerating hardware. Its implementation improves traceability, simplifies compliance, and supports the long‑term maintenance of complex computational deployments.