IISc Develops Breakthrough Brain-Inspired Computing Platform

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science have created a brain-inspired analog computing platform capable of storing and processing data in 16,500 conductance states within a molecular film. This innovation, published in Nature, has the potential to revolutionize AI tasks by drastically improving the efficiency and speed of data processing.

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has announced a groundbreaking brain-inspired analog computing platform that can store and process data in an astonishing 16,500 conductance states within a molecular film. Researchers believe this development, published in Nature, could revolutionize AI tasks, enhancing industrial and consumer applications.

Traditionally, digital computers store and process data in just two states. The new platform, designed by IISc Assistant Professor Sreetosh Goswami and his team, could enable energy-efficient AI on personal devices, a significant improvement over current systems reliant on resource-heavy data centers. The breakthrough aligns with silicon electronics advancements, making brain-inspired accelerators crucial for faster, more efficient AI.

The platform's molecular system, engineered by IISc Visiting Professor Sreebrata Goswami, uses precise voltage pulses to create a detailed 'molecular diary' of states. This technology drastically reduces the time and energy required for AI calculations, which are fundamental to tasks like matrix multiplication. The discovery could position India at the forefront of global AI hardware innovation, with further developments supported by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

(With inputs from agencies.)