Researchers from Western Sydney University, in collaboration with tech giants like Intel and Dell, have built a massive supercomputer designed to simulate neural networks at the scale of the human brain. This one-of-a-kind supercomputer, named DeepSouth, is set to go online soon.
According to researchers, DeepSouth is capable of performing 228 trillion synaptic operations per second, allowing it to mimic the neural networks of the brain and match the processing speed of human cognition. The project was announced this week at the NeuroEng Workshop, organized by the International Centre for Neuromorphic Systems (ICNS) at Western Sydney University, bringing together leading experts in computational neuroscience.
The neuromorphic circuitry of DeepSouth is based on networks of simple processors that operate in parallel. It imitates the way different neurons in the brain function simultaneously through synaptic connections. The system is designed to be scalable and can be easily reprogrammed using the Python programming language, enabling researchers to leverage its technology without needing an in-depth understanding of the hardware itself. The name DeepSouth was chosen as a tribute to two legendary supercomputers: IBM’s Deep Blue and TrueNorth. The system is expected to become operational in April 2024.