Intel packs 8 million digital neurons into a brain-like computer

The human brain is made up of 86 billion interconnected brain cells or neurons. Intel is now taking a significant step toward digital equivalents by building a computer system with 8 million digital neurons. The system, called Pohoiki Beach, contains 64 Intel Labs Loihi chips that will be available to researchers to help chipmakers mature the technology and commercialize it. PohoikiBeach's 8 million digital neurons are an important step for Intel to achieve its goal of 100 million later this year.

Real products like Apple's iPhone chip are already equipped with brain-inspired technology circuits, but Intel's "neural form" Loihi project takes an important step toward the actual brain work, even including the axis that neurons use to transmit signals. The digital equivalent of the sudden, and the dendrites that receive this information, as well as the synapses that connect the two.

Intel said the researchers have used the Loihi system to simulate the tactile sensing of the skin, controlling prosthetic legs and playing football. Nowadays, the increase in processor speed is becoming more and more difficult, and the miniaturization of electronic devices is steadily increasing and the power consumption is getting higher and higher. As a result, chipmakers are turning their attention from general-purpose CPUs (central processing units) to dedicated chips that are faster in a limited set of operations.