Not even IBM is sure where its quantum computer experiments will lead

Despite the hype and hoopla surrounding the burgeoning field of quantum computing, the technology is still in its infancy. Just a few years ago, researchers were making headlines with rudimentary machines that housed less than a dozen qubits -- the q...

ICYMI: Computer chips cooled by ‘blood,’ tiny tank and more

Today on In Case You Missed It: IBM Research in Zurich is using fluid to both power and cool computer chips, modeled off of the way the human brain works. University of Southampton scientists created small glass discs for mega data storage that the...

IBM Research reveals new silicon chip foundation inspired by the human brain (video)

The brain is an incredibly complicated thing, so much so that scientists have spent years trying to decipher its inner workings. IBM is one such institution attempting to crack the code of the human mind. In collaboration with DARPA's SyNAPSE program, it developed a "neurosynaptic computing chip" back in 2011 designed to simulate some of the brain's functions and successfully simulated 530 billion neurons last year thanks to the world's second fastest supercomputer. Today, the company unveiled an important next step in this quest with a new software ecosystem made to program silicon chips that would closely emulate the brain's low power and compact volume.

Some of the discoveries in the new ecosystem include a multi-threaded software simulator, a neuron model that supports wide-ranging neural computations, and programs made out of "corelets," building blocks that represent neurosynaptic network blueprints. It's quite a lot to grasp to be sure, so we've embedded a video after the break of IBM explaining the possible applications of its research. As for the scientifically-minded amongst you, feel free to peruse the press release for more details on IBM's latest breakthrough in cognitive computing.

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IBM supercomputer simulates 530 billion neurons and a whole lot of synapses

IBM supercomputer simulates 530 billion neurons and a whole lot of synapses

IBM Research, in collaboration with DARPA's Systems of Neuromorphic Adaptive Plastic Scalable Electronics (SyNAPSE) program, has reached another brain simulation milestone. Powered by its new TrueNorth system on the world's second fastest supercomputer, IBM was capable of crafting a 2.084 billion neurosynaptic cores and 100 trillion synapses -- all at a speed "only" 1,542 times slower than real life. The abstract explains that this isn't a biologically realistic simulation of the human brain, but rather mathematically abstracted -- and little more dour -- versions steered towards maximizing function and minimizing cost. DARPA's SyNAPSE project aims to tie together supercomputing, neuroscience and neurotech for a future cognitive computing architecture far beyond what's running behind your PC screen at the moment. Want to know more? We've included IBM's video explanation of cognitive computing after the break.

Continue reading IBM supercomputer simulates 530 billion neurons and a whole lot of synapses

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Via: Kurzweil AI

Source: SC12