Last Week in AI

AI Computing Hardware - Past, Present, and Future

280 snips
Jan 29, 2025
Dive into the fascinating history of AI hardware from the early days of computing to the rise of GPUs and TPUs. Discover how advancements have catalyzed the evolution of deep learning models. Explore the critical challenges faced, including the memory wall and the dynamics of chip fabrication. Learn about recent restrictions on AI chip exports, which could reshape the tech landscape. Delve into the synergy between hardware and AI applications, revealing how modern technology continues to push boundaries.
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ANECDOTE

Early AI Programs

  • Early AI programs, like a checkers-playing program in 1951, showcased the potential of AI.
  • Marvin Minsky's SNARC, a neural net built with vacuum tubes, simulated rat learning.
INSIGHT

Custom-Built Hardware

  • Early computing hardware was largely custom-built for specific AI applications.
  • This bespoke approach limited scalability compared to later general-purpose hardware.
ANECDOTE

Early Machine Learning and Neural Nets

  • Arthur Samuel's checkers program on the IBM 701 demonstrated early machine learning.
  • The perceptron in 1958, a custom-built machine, showcased the first real neural net.
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