SAN FRANCISCO — The largest computer chips would usually fit in the palm of your hand. Some could rest on the tip of your finger. Conventional wisdom says anything bigger would be a problem.

Now a Silicon Valley start-up, Cerebras, is challenging that notion. On Monday, the company unveiled what it claims is the largest computer chip ever built. As big as a dinner plate — about 100 times the size of a typical chip — it would barely fit in your lap.

The engineers behind the chip believe it can be used in giant data centers and help accelerate the progress of artificial intelligence in everything from self-driving cars to talking digital assistants like Amazon’s Alexa.

Many companies are building new chips for A.I., including traditional chip makers like Intel and Qualcomm and other start-ups in the United States, Britain and China.