Date: Tuesday, October 11, 2022

Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Location: Pettit Microelectronics Building, 102B

Speaker: Gordon Hirsch Wilson

Speaker’s Title: CEO and co-founder

Speaker’s Affiliation: Rain Neuromorphics

Seminar Title: What's next after GPUs? Rain's roadmap for brain-like AI hardware 

Abstract:  The deep learning revolution that began in 2012 was sparked by the integration of two preexisting technologies: the back propagation algorithm for training neural networks, and the GPU architecture for scaling them up to large sizes. For a decade, the roadmap defined by these two technologies has enabled immense progress in digital artificial intelligence. Now, the costs associated with this approach make further progress impractical.  At Rain, we have focused on developing a new learning algorithm and scaling architecture for neuromorphic hardware. The equilibrium propagation algorithm and the sparse neural array architecture form the backbone for a new roadmap of analog artificial intelligence.  In this talk, I will discuss our mission, our past 5 years of research and development, plans for partnerships, and the path forward as we scale our organization after closing Series A funding in January 2022.

Biographical Sketch of the Speaker: Gordon Hirsch Wilson is the CEO and co-founder of Rain Neuromorphics. Gordon studied mathematics and statistics at the University of Florida, where he met his co-founders, CTO Jack Kendall and Chief Scientific Advisor Juan Nino.  Gordon and Jack are unique among Silicon Valley semiconductor founders, in that they do not come from a background in the industry. Founding Rain when they were both 25 years old, they seek to bring a fresh and interdisciplinary perspective to the chip industry. Gordon lives in the Castro district of San Francisco, California.