Flexible "Brain" for AI Cuts Energy Use by 80%

Scientists at Osaka University built a new computing device from field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA) that can be customized by the user for maximum efficiency in artificial intelligence applications. Compared with currently used rewireable hardware, the system increases circuit density by a factor of 12. Also, it is expected to reduce energy usage by 80%. This advance may lead to flexible artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that provide enhanced performance while consuming much less electricity. AI is becoming a part of everyday life for almost all consumers. However, implementing these algorithms often require a large amount of computing power, which means large electricity bills, as well as big carbon footprints.