How far can we push computing?
This article discusses the physical limits of computing and the shift from scaling down transistors to building massive, energy-intensive data centers. It references Richard Feynman's vision of atomic-scale manipulation as a contrast to current brute-force infrastructure growth.
Why it matters
The current trend of massive data center expansion is hitting physical and electrical grid limits, necessitating a return to fundamental innovation in chip architecture.
Nowadays big advances are made by scaling up—think more chips packed into ever-bigger data centers. But as we near the ceiling of what we can build, there’s still plenty of room below, at the fundamental physical limits of computing.
MIT Technology Review Explains: Let our writers untangle the complex, messy world of science and technology to help you understand what’s coming next. You can
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