Rumor: Samsung is working for Google on chip for tracking exercise

According to a rumor, Samsung is designing and manufacturing a chip for tracking physical activity on behalf of Google. For example, the chip could be used in a fitness tracker.

It is not clear what kind of chip it is. It may be a chip that is linked to various sensors that measure movements and other body characteristics. South Korean newspaper Electronic Times releases the rumor without providing technical details.

Google could use such a chip in its own wearable. Currently, Google doesn’t make fitness trackers, but the company plans to do so. The search giant wants to take over FitBit for that. The European Commission is investigating this takeover and has yet to give permission for it.

Commenting on the EC’s investigation, Rick Osterloh, CEO of Google’s hardware division, said the combination of Google and FitBit hardware will increase competition in the fitness tracker market. He already hints at the use of his own hardware.

Google also uses chips tailored for special applications, such as the Pixel Neural Core, in its Pixel smartphones. This is in addition to the soc that is used for processing camera images.