Researchers at imec managed to teach the new microchip how to write music on its own. “To achieve that, we first programmed classical minuets into the chip,” explains researcher Diederik Verkest. “The chip then learns how to recognize patterns and rhythms from those existing minuets and use them to create new music. Imec is the first to have developed a demo version of this type of self-learning chip.”
Powerful and energy-efficient self-learning chips can be used for a range of applications. To give just one example, they can be integrated into small sensors for Internet of Things or digital healthcare solutions. The resulting heart sensors, for instance, could instantly spot abnormal changes in the heartbeat rhythm and send out a warning.
Imec’s ultimate objective is to enable artificial intelligence in microchips that are as small and use as little energy as possible. This, against a low cost—so that the chips can be used in any field of application.
