SPARSE MATRIX MULTIPLICATION IN HARDWARE

Aspects of the disclosure provide for methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer-readable storage media, for sparse matrix multiplication. A system for matrix multiplication includes an array of sparse shards. Each sparse shard can be configured to receive an input sub-matrix and an input sub-vector, where the input sub-matrix has a number of non-zero values equal to or less than a predetermined maximum non-zero threshold. The sparse shard can, by a plurality of multiplier circuits, compute one or more products of vector values multiplied with respective non-zero values of the input sub-matrix. The sparse shard can generate, as output to the sparse shard and using the one or more products, a shard output vector that is the product of applying the shard input vector to the shard input matrix.