AI chip adds artificial neurons to resistive RAM for use in wearables, drones

A newly published research paper describes a compute-in-memory (CIM) chip that combines artificial neurons with resistive RAM (RRAM) so that the AI model weights can be stored and processed on the same chip. A compute-in-memory chip based on resistive random-access memory A compute-in-memory chip based on resistive random- …

[Filippo]

Nice! Now I'd love to see the same design used for massive models. Current neural networks are pretty much a highly inefficient software emulation of the real thing.

[Wellyboot]

As long as it's never connected to the internet or used in any real world hardware we should be ok.

[jmch]

Local AI

If I would ever be using any "AI"* assistance, I would far rather that it resides in 'edge' devices, rather than send all my data to Amazon / Google etc for processing to get a result. It's far far better for privacy.

eg with Alexa, Siri and whatever Google's assistant is called, they are constantly listening in case someone says 'hey Alexa' (obligatoty xkcd**), and sending whoever knows what other data besides the audio stream for processing.

It might be much less efficient, get worse results, and hinder training of future "AI"*s but there's far too much snooping going on already!!

* definitely A but certainly not I

** https://xkcd.com/1807/

[Zebo-the-Fat]

Is "Productization" a real word??

[Anonymous Coward]

Productization

See e.g. an old discussion....

https://forums.theregister.com/forum/all/2020/03/27/terahertz_nanoscale_transmitter/#c_4003207

[adam 40]

Sexbot

The CIM functionality will come in very handy.

Damn where's that Paris icon--->>>

[Ken Moorhouse]

Re: Sexbot

And take the load off the pentesting community.

[Calin Negru]

I`m confused. What I do understand is that neural networks belong to the realm of software. I fail to understand what 'artificial neurons' are? a new microchip manufacturing technique that replaces transistors and the classical way of building PCB/microchip circuitry?

[Dr. G. Freeman]

Artificial neurons are grown in a dish, rather than picked out of something living.

[Calin Negru]

Well that still makes no sense. How do you combine something living with electronics functioning with electrical impulses representing one and zero.

[Dr. G. Freeman]

https://spectrum.ieee.org/researchers-grow-brain-cells-on-a-chip

here's a quick look at it.

[lnLog]

Artificial neurons use analogue signals not digital, magnitude not value. Hence the comment about the line switches coping with both analogue and digital signalling.