Reviewed by Alex SmithSep 20 2021
In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has undergone massive growth. However, despite huge advances, there has been a continuous increase in the power needed to run AI algorithms.
Image Credit: Stock Photo.
By contrast, the human brain requires only about 20 W to carry out over 10 quadrillions (10,000,000,000,000,000) operations. This is 12 orders of magnitude more than modern supercomputer technologies.
That’s why we’re conducting intensive research into developing new hardware that mimics the structure of the human brain, with neurons, synapses and neural networks, known as brain-inspired computing (BICs). But even though we’ve managed to drastically reduce the energy consumption of AI algorithms, there’s still a long way to go before BICs are as efficient as the human brain when it comes to size and energy efficiency,
Hooman Farkhani, Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Aarhus University
Farkhani recently received a DKK 1.9 million grant from the Villum Experiment program for a new study analyzing the development of a nano-sized BIC system.
If we succeed, we’ll have the first BIC system that is no larger than a grain of dust and with energy consumption that is so small that energy can be harvested directly from the surrounding environment. In other words, no power supply will be needed, and this will pave the way for a range of new, previously impossible AI applications.
Hooman Farkhani, Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Aarhus University
Named Spin-Grain, the project is one of 51 projects that recently received grants worth about DKK 99 million from the Villum Experiment program under the Villum Foundation.
The program contributes money for “bold research experiments” and offers tribute to Villum Kann Rasmussen, the founder of the Villum Foundation, and his persevering experimental approach to life.
The scientists who are part of the 51 experiments vary from PhD students to professors and represent an extensive range of different nationalities. Apart from Aarhus University, grants have been provided to the Technical University of Denmark, Aalborg University, the University of Copenhagen, Roskilde University, the University of Southern Denmark, the IT University and GEUS.