China unveils world’s first non-binary AI chip for industry use

China has begun mass production of the world’s first non-binary AI chips, developed by Professor Li Hongge and his team at Beihang University. These chips integrate traditional binary logic with probabilistic computing through a novel Hybrid Stochastic Number (HSN) system, overcoming key limitations of current chip technologies such as high power consumption and poor compatibility with older systems. The new chips offer enhanced fault tolerance, power efficiency, and multitasking capabilities via system-on-chip (SoC) design and in-memory computing algorithms, making them suitable for applications in aviation, manufacturing, and smart control systems like touchscreens. The development leverages mature semiconductor fabrication processes, including a 110-nanometer process for initial touch and display chips and a 28 nm CMOS process for machine learning chips. The team’s innovations enable microsecond-level on-chip computing latency, balancing hardware acceleration with software flexibility. Future plans include creating specialized instructions and chip designs to further optimize hybrid probabilistic computing for complex AI tasks such as speech and image processing. Despite the promising advancements, challenges remain regarding compatibility and long-term reliability, indicating that widespread adoption and impact will require further development and validation.