If you thought the artificial intelligence displayed in The Terminator movie franchise was science fiction, think again.
IBM introduced an experimental neurosynaptic computer chip on Thursday, Aug. 18, that emulates brain function in the areas of perception, action and cognition. According to the company, the chips will use algorithms and silicon circuitry to recreate spiking neurons and synapses in the brain.
The chips will be embedded into “cognitive computers” which, instead of being programmed to do certain actions, will learn through experiences, create hypotheses and remember outcomes.
“These chips are another significant step in the evolution of computers from calculators to learning systems, signaling the beginning of a new generation of computers and their applications in business, science and government,” said Dharmendra Modha, project leader for IBM Research, in a statement.
The chips are being worked on between IBM and a host of university collaborators. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded $21 million in funding for the research as part of Phase 2 of the Systems of Neuromorphic Adaptive Plastic Scalable Electronics (SyNAPSE) project.
SyNAPSE is a project to create a computer system that analyzes complex information from multiple sensors, but adapts itself automatically based on its interaction with the environment.
Video: The International Business Times reports on IBM's new brain-like computer chip.