Market Trends of Neuromorphic Chip Industry
Consumer Electronics Segment Holds Significant Market Share
• The consumer electronics industry identifies neuromorphic computing as a promising tool for enabling high-performance computing and ultra-low power consumption to achieve these goals. For instance, AI services like Alexa and Siri rely on cloud computing and the internet to parse and respond to spoken commands and questions. Neuromorphic chips have the potential to allow several varieties of sensors and devices to perform intelligently without requiring an internet connection.
• Smartphones are expected to be the trigger for the introduction of neuromorphic computing. Several operations, such as biometrics, are power-hungry and data-intensive. For instance, in speech recognition, audio data is processed in the cloud and then returned to the phone.
• Wearable devices are a fast-growing technology with a considerable impact on personal healthcare for both the economy and society. Due to widespread sensors in pervasive and distributed networks, power consumption, processing speed, and system adaptation are vital in the future of smart wearable devices. Additionally, the field of artificial intelligence further boosts the possibility of smart wearable sensory systems. The emerging high-performance systems and intelligent applications need more complexity and demand sensory units to describe the physical object accurately.
• Advanced functions like image identification and natural language processing are becoming possible for wearables due to dedicated neuromorphic devices like IBM’s TrueNorth. In an emergency, neuromorphic wearables can notify medical personnel, monitor vital signs, identify abnormalities, and respond promptly.
• The increasing interest in neuromorphic engineering shows that hardware-spiking neural networks are considered a critical future technology with high potential in crucial applications, such as edge computing and wearable devices.
North America to Hold Major Share over the Forecast Period
• North America is home to some of the major market vendors, such as Intel Corporation and IBM Corporation. The market for neuromorphic chips is growing in the region due to factors such as government initiatives, investment activities, and others.
• For instance, in September 2023, In order to facilitate quick advancements in novel semiconductor technologies and manufacturing as well as workforce development, the US National Science Foundation announced 24 research and education initiatives totaling USD 45.6 million, including financing from the “CHIPS and Science Act of 2022”. The NSF Future of Semiconductors (FuSe) program funds the initiatives in conjunction with four companies, Samsung, Ericsson, IBM, and Intel, through a public-private collaboration.
• On the other hand, the government of Canada is focusing on artificial intelligence technology, which is also expected to create a scope for growth in neuromorphic computing over the coming years. For instance, in June 2023, the government of Canada proposed a new Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA) to address the potential risks of AI, build trust in Canada’s AI industry, and protect Canadians from a range of harms. AIDA will ensure that Canada is home to the world's most responsible and trusted AI.
• Several research projects are attracting collaborations for advancements in neuromorphic technology. For instance, in June 2023, Los Alamos National Laboratory announced the development of the new interface-type memristive device, which their results suggest can be used to build artificial synapses for next-generation neuromorphic computing.
• The increasing defense expenditure of various countries is also expected to drive the demand for neuromorphic computing in North America.
