Speed and Precision Thanks to a New Initiative for Energy-efficient AI Chips from Germany

Automation, digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI) are an integral part of our everyday lives. They enable technical progress and simplify many areas of life. However, every use of AI requires computing power, which is implemented by corresponding microprocessors. The energy demand for this increases with the enhancing performance of AI and places a growing strain on our energy resources.

With the new initiative ‘Leistungsfähige und energieeffiziente KI-Prozessorsysteme (Kolibri)’ (‘Powerful and energy-efficient AI processor systems (Kolibri (hummingbird))’, we want to ensure that AI performs better with less energy in the future. Hummingbirds stand for speed, efficiency and precision – characteristics that are also important for modern AI processors and for the development and application of AI algorithms. In designing ‘Kolibri’, we drew on the expertise of the community and took current technology trends into account. These include so-called edge applications: AI solutions working directly on site – for example, in vehicles, factories or medical devices – without the need to send data to remote data centres. Such measures conserve energy, boost speed, and enhance data privacy. The initiative aims at companies, universities and research institutions that are jointly conducting research into energy-efficient AI chips.

Further information on the initiative can be found here, and an overview of the objectives and other flagship measures of the HTAD on microelectronics here.