Next-gen AI computing: Artificial neurons replicate complex brain abilities.

Researchers have developed atomically thin artificial neurons capable of processing both light and electric signals for computing. The material enables the simultaneous existence of separate feedforward and feedback paths within a neural network, boosting the ability to solve complex problems. The team used a stack of three 2D materials to create a device that shows a change in its conductance depending on the power and duration of light/electricity that is shone on it. These devices are analog and operate similarly to the synapses and neurons in our biological brain, allowing for computations that produce gradual changes in the amount of stored electronic charge.