New designs for ‘neuromorphic’ processors could mean faster, cheaper AI
To understand what these researchers have done, you need to know a little about neuromorphic chips. The key difference between these processors and the ones used in your computer is that they process data in an analog, rather than a digital fashion. This means that instead of sending information in a series of on / off electrical bursts, they vary the intensity of these signals — just like our brain’s synapses do.
This means that more information can be packed into each jolt, drastically reducing the amount of power needed. It’s like the difference between morse code and speech.
A big difficulty with building neuromorphic chips, though, is being able to precisely control these analog signals. Their intensity needs to vary, yes, but in a controlled and consistent fashion.
See the full story here: https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/24/16927040/ai-neuromorphic-engineering-computing-mit-brain-chip