NEW YORK — To solve some of the world’s toughest computing problems, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is getting a boost from the human brain.The US government lab will begin testing on Thursday a $1m computer, the first of its kind, packed with 16 microprocessors that are designed to mimic the way the brain works.The chip called TrueNorth, introduced by International Business Machines (IBM) in 2014, is radically different from the microprocessors found in today’s servers or personal computers.It is packed with 5.4-billion transistors that constitute a network of 1-million simulated neurons connected by a vast web of synapses.IBM joins companies including Qualcomm and Microsoft in devising specialised chips designed to speed up some complex computational tasks.Chips such as TrueNorth are better suited to the artificial intelligence technique known as deep learning, which is also based loosely on how the brain operates."Brains, somehow, despite fairly simple-looking components,...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.