Title:
Intel Unveils Hala Point: The World’s Largest Neuromorphic Computer
Introduction:
INTEL has built the world’s largest neuromorphic computer that aims to function similarly to the human brain. The tech giant announced the computer, dubbed Hala Point, on Wednesday, April 17.
Hala Point – The Game-Changing Neuromorphic Computer
Hala Point comprises 1,152 Loihi 2 chips that mimic a total of 1.15 billion artificial neurons. This breakthrough technology by Intel’s Loihi 2 processor hopes to support future brain-inspired artificial intelligence research.
The Evolution from Pohoiki Springs to Hala Point
There are also an impressive “128 billion synapses distributed over 140,544 neuromorphic processing cores,” Intel revealed. The computer advances on Intel’s first-generation research system, Pohoiki Springs, the company said. This includes architectural improvements that achieve over 10 times more neuron capacity and up to 12 times higher performance.
Unleashing Unprecedented Computational Power
It can also make 20 quadrillion operations per second, Live Science reported. Mike Davies, director of the Neuromorphic Computing Lab at Intel Labs, said the computing cost of today’s AI models is growing at unsustainable rates. As such, the industry needs new approaches and for that reason, Intel developed Hala Point.
Empowering Future AI Research with Hala Point
Hala Point combines deep learning efficiency with brain-inspired learning and optimization capabilities. “We hope that research with Hala Point will advance the efficiency and adaptability of large-scale AI technology,” Davies added.
Collaboration with Sandia Labs for Groundbreaking Research
Sandia Labs, which worked with Intel to develop Hala Point, hopes to use the system for “brain-scale computing research.” Specifically, it wants to target areas like device physics, computer architecture, computer science, and informatics. Research with a system of this size will allow solving computational and scientific modeling problems in various fields.
The Future Prospects of Hala Point
Currently, Hala Point is only a research prototype, but it could soon be used in commercial systems. “For the first time we’re showing standard deep neural networks being mapped and transformed into a form that can run at this kind of scale in a neuromorphic system,” Davies told ZDNET.
Conclusion:
Intel’s innovative strides in creating Hala Point highlight its commitment to pushing the boundaries of AI technology. The potential applications and advancements that Hala Point brings pave the way for a new era in computing. Intel’s continuous dedication to enhancing AI technology signifies a promising future for artificial intelligence research and development.