DeepSouth Supercomputer Designed to Mimic the Human Brain, Expected to Begin Operations in April 2024.
DeepSouth is the first machine capable of simulating the human brain at full scale. (Photo: Western Sydney University)
A team of scientists at Western Sydney University has introduced DeepSouth, the first supercomputer capable of simulating the human brain at full scale, as reported by IFL Science on December 19. Once operational, DeepSouth will be able to perform up to 228 trillion neural operations per second, a figure comparable to the activity of all the interconnected neurons in the human brain.
The human brain is an extremely energy-efficient system, and scientists are still striving to replicate that efficiency in computers. The Frontier supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, one of the fastest computers in the world today, requires 22.7 MW to operate, according to Domenico Vicinanza, an associate professor of Intelligent Systems and Data Science at Anglia Ruskin University. In contrast, the human brain can operate at a similar speed—one quintillion calculations per second—using only 20 watts.
DeepSouth is expected to assist researchers in exploring computing in a more energy-efficient manner. This supercomputer features an advanced design that mimics the human brain, differing significantly from the traditional electronic computer designs that have not changed much over decades. DeepSouth is set to begin operations in April 2024.
The brain simulation circuit diagram of DeepSouth is based on a network of simple processors that can operate in parallel. It mimics how different neurons in the brain, connected by synapses, can work simultaneously. The system will be scalable and easily reprogrammable from the user interface using the popular programming language Python, allowing researchers to utilize the technology without needing to have in-depth knowledge of the hardware.
“This platform will enhance our understanding of the brain and develop computing applications on a scale similar to the brain across various fields such as sensing, biomedicine, robotics, space exploration, and large-scale AI applications,” stated Professor André van Schaik, director of the International Centre for Neuro Simulation (ICNS) at Western Sydney University.
