IBM Research has unveiled a prototype of an analogue AI chip that demonstrates remarkable efficiency and accuracy in performing complex computations for deep neural networks (DNNs).

The new design aims to address concerns regarding the carbon emissions associated with the large number of computers needed to power AI systems, as well as extend the life of smartphones. 

The chip's efficiency is down to components that work in a similar way to connections in human brains, according to IBM. 

The 14nm CMOS IC is composed of 64 analogue in-memory computing tiles, each with a 256 x 256 crossbar array of synaptic unit cells. This allows the semiconductor to stores weights locally as analogue levels as conductance in phase-change memory, and implements analogue multiply-accumulate calculation.

A rendering of IBM's analog AI chip...