Need to Fit Billions of Transistors on a Chip? Let AI Do It

Cutting-edge computer chips are increasingly important to just about every corner of the economy—from cars to medical devices to scientific research. Sketching out a computer chip is both complex and intricate, requiring designers to arrange billions of components on a surface smaller than a fingernail. Decisions at each step can affect a chip’s performance and reliability, so the best chip designers rely on years of experience and hard-won know-how to squeeze the best performance and efficiency from nanoscopic devices. Previous efforts to automate chip design have come to little; however, recent advances in AI have made it possible for algorithms to learn some of the ‘arts’ involved in chip design. This should help companies draw up more powerful and efficient blueprints in much less time. All of the major chip manufacturers are currently testing this approach, so stay tuned for future advancements and innovations that could affect your business.