Brain-inspired energy efficient technologies for next-generation artificial intelligence

Since the advent of widely accessible AI tools, AI technology has been in high demand by businesses, academic researchers and individuals. Technology companies are building AI infrastructure at a rapid pace, and these facilities consume vast and growing resources, particularly electricity and water, with significant real and projected climate impacts. There is a need for new research initiatives to support long time horizon efforts to develop energy efficient computing capabilities to support the continued growth of AI infrastructure in a sustainable fashion. Such efficiency is required at both the hardware and software levels. Where can industry turn for examples of ultra-low power, energy efficient computing? We argue here that neurobiological principles offer rich and under-exploited sources of inspiration for energy efficient NeuroAI, and that new partnerships between industry and academia should be developed in this direction.