# Choosing the Right Technologies for Hybrid AI Chips

- Show: [EE Times Current](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current)
- Published: 2024-04-05
- Length: 52m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2024-04-05-choosing-the-right-technologies-for-hybrid-ai-chips
- Listen: https://podcast.show/aspencore/episode/131923863/

## Summary

Dr. Amirreza Yousefzadeh, formerly of imec and Gray Matter Labs, now at the University of Twente, explains the design of the Seneca hybrid neuromorphic chip, which combines conventional digital processing with event-driven neural network architectures. He details the decision to use time-multiplexed neurons and a dual-controller 'big.LITTLE' structure to balance flexibility and power efficiency, aiming to compete with conventional AI accelerators like NVIDIA GPUs. The episode also features discussion from Dr. Giulia D’Angelo of Fortiss and Professor Ralph Etienne-Cummings of Johns Hopkins University on the commercial viability and research directions of neuromorphic engineering.

## Chapters

- [0:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2024-04-05-choosing-the-right-technologies-for-hybrid-ai-chips#t=2) Introduction: Dr. Amirreza Yousefzadeh and Hybrid AI Chips
- [1:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2024-04-05-choosing-the-right-technologies-for-hybrid-ai-chips#t=108) Yousefzadeh's Background: From Digital Electronics to Neuromorphic PhD
- [5:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2024-04-05-choosing-the-right-technologies-for-hybrid-ai-chips#t=323) Career Path: Gray Matter Labs, imec, and the Seneca Chip Design
- [11:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2024-04-05-choosing-the-right-technologies-for-hybrid-ai-chips#t=672) Seneca Architecture: Digital Technology, Hybrid Memory, and Time-Multiplexing
- [17:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2024-04-05-choosing-the-right-technologies-for-hybrid-ai-chips#t=1026) Dual Controller Strategy: Big.LITTLE Structure for Power and Flexibility
- [22:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2024-04-05-choosing-the-right-technologies-for-hybrid-ai-chips#t=1365) Power Modeling and Simulation: Using Synopsys and Cadence for Validation
- [24:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2024-04-05-choosing-the-right-technologies-for-hybrid-ai-chips#t=1493) Market View: Neuromorphic Standards and Commercialization Timeline
- [28:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2024-04-05-choosing-the-right-technologies-for-hybrid-ai-chips#t=1683) Panel Discussion: D’Angelo and Etienne-Cummings on Event-Based Vision
- [47:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2024-04-05-choosing-the-right-technologies-for-hybrid-ai-chips#t=2847) Bonus: Yousefzadeh’s Move to University of Twente and Future Research

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- imec (company)
- Gray Matter Labs (company)
- University of Twente (other)
- Fortiss (company)
- Johns Hopkins University (other)
- University College London (other)
- IBM (company)
- NVIDIA (company)
- Intel (company)
- Synopsys (other)
- Cadence (other)
- Seneca (product)
- TrueNorth (product)
- Loihi (product)
- ResNet-50 (product)
- BrainChip (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [EP 180: HPE Reflections on AI Compute Racks, Analog Analog Analog Semis.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2026-06-22-ep-180-hpe-reflections-on-ai-compute-racks-analog-analog-analog-semis) (The Circuit)
- [Episode 23: Emerging Competitive Dynamics in Silicon Thanks AI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-06-19-episode-23-emerging-competitive-dynamics-in-silicon-thanks-ai) (The Circuit)
- [145. The Prius of Artificial Intelligence: Hybrid AI Models](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-10-24-145-the-prius-of-artificial-intelligence-hybrid-ai-models) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Heterogeneous Computing with Raja Koduri](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2024-07-18-heterogeneous-computing-with-raja-koduri) (Oxide and Friends)
- [Episode 70!!! NPUs!!!!!!!!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2024-06-02-episode-70-npus) (The Circuit)

## Citing this page

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