IBM's Brain-Inspired Chip Tested for Deep Learning

The deep-learning software driving the modern artificial intelligence revolution has mostly run on fairly standard computer hardware. Some tech giants such as Google and Intel have focused some of their considerable resources on creating more specialized computer chips designed for deep learning. But IBM has taken a more unusual approach: It is testing its brain-inspired TrueNorth computer chip as a hardware platform for deep learning. Deep learning's powerful capabilities rely on algorithms called convolutional neural networks that consist of layers of nodes (also known as neurons). Such neural networks can filter huge amounts of data through their "deep" layers to become better at, say, automatically recognizing individual human faces or understanding different languages. These are the types of capabilities that already empower online services offered by the likes of Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft.