The Future of Compute: How the Data Transformation is Reshaping VLSI

Abstract

The digital transformation continues to gain momentum, as businesses offer consumers increasingly distributed services, and industry pursues improvements across the extent of the electronics ecosystem. This transformation is characterized by continued strong demand for compute at all points in the network - at the core, the edge, and at the endpoints. Data continues to grow at an exponential rate and not only drives the compute requirements, but also requires efficient solutions for movement and storage of data that is critical for overall performance. From device to cloud, new applications and use cases are continuously emerging. This transformation demands that we adapt our thinking and move from a hardware/program centric to a data/information centric approach, and to embrace new ways to compute. To keep pace in this dynamic environment, Moore's Law and its impact have become more relevant than ever. The continued scaling of dimensions, materials and devices drives a renewed focus on the fundamental physics of devices and materials, while novel architecture schemes and system design innovation motivate a more comprehensive understanding of large-scale integration at all levels of the system.