For something we ’re all just toting around without a second thought , the human brain has some very impressive capabilities . So impressive , in fact , that even the mostsophisticated computerscannot yet double all its social function . But that could be about to shift . Scientists at Western Sydney University just unveiled their fresh supercomputer DeepSouth , the first that will be capable of copy a full - weighing machine human brain .
When it ’s useable , DeepSouth will be open of performing a stupefying 228 trillion synaptic operations per s . This is like to the level of activity across all themany interconnected neuronswithin the brain , and it ’s all thanks to its innovative neuromorphic design .
“ Progress in our apprehension of how mastermind compute using neuron is hampered by our inability to simulate mind like networks at scale , ” said Professor André van Schaik , theatre director of the International Centre for Neuromorphic Systems ( ICNS ) at Western Sydney , in astatement . “ Simulating spiking neuronal networks on standard computers using Graphics Processing Units ( GPUs ) and multicore Central Processing Units ( CPUs ) is just too slow and top executive intensive . Our system will change that . ”
A concept image of DeepSouth.Image credit: ICNS/Western Sydney University
The mind is a highly get-up-and-go - effective system , and scientists have so far contend to repeat this efficiency in a synthetic computer . Oak Ridge National Laboratory’sFrontier supercomputer , view by many to be the immobile computer in the mankind at present , requires 22.7 megawatts to lean , as Domenico Vicinanza , Associate Professor of Intelligent Systems and Data Science at Anglia Ruskin University , explained forThe Conversation .
The human nous , by dividing line , can operate at the same speed – a billion - billion calculations per 2d , also known as an exaflop – with just 20 James Watt .
DeepSouth will therefore allow researcher to explore calculation in a less business leader - thirsty elbow room .
The neuromorphic design is also fundamentally distinct from that of traditional electronic computing machine , which has remained basically unchanged for many decades . Up to now , estimator have been characterise by freestanding processing and memory units – data is salt away in one place , and manipulated in another .
While we may still have much to learn about howmemoryworks in the human brain , we ’re pretty sure that it does n’t work quite like this , so scientists are depend to the computers inside our heads for inhalation as they design themachines of the future tense .
DeepSouth ’s neuromorphic circuitry is found on connection of simple processors that can all work in parallel . It mime the way unlike neurons in the brain , connected viasynapses , can fire simultaneously . The organisation will be scalable and well reprogrammable from the front end using the popular Python programming language , imply that researchers will be able to make usage of the technology without an intimate understanding of the hardware itself .
But exactly what kinds of applications could we be talking about ?
“ This program will get along our understanding of the brain and arise brain - scale leaf computation applications in diverse fields include detection , biomedical , robotics , place , and gravid - scale AI applications , ” Professor van Schaik explained , going on to name advanced overbold equipment , agricultural sensors , and more effective artificial intelligence ( AI ) platform as just some of the possibilities .
Speaking toNew Scientist , Ralph Etienne - Cummings of Johns Hopkins University , who is not directly involved in the DeepSouth project , also suggested how the supercomputer could benefit inquiry like his own – after three 10 of enquiry in the theater of operations of mobile robotics and legged locomotion , he has latterly made outstanding strides in the earth of neuroprostheses andbrain - computer interfaces .
“ If you are attempt to understand the brain this will be the hardware to do it on , ” he said .
DeepSouth – whose name is a nod to its location in Sydney , Australia as well as a court to two doyens of the supercomputing world , IBM’sDeep BlueandTrueNorth – will hopefully go online in April 2024 . Until then , we ’ll have to wait to get hold out just what skill will be capable to attain by packing all the power of a human mind into a supercomputer .
