On the Status, Requirements, and Expectations of Neuro-Inspired High-Performance Computing

Neuro-inspired integrated circuits in 2026 are a future high-performance computing (HPC) technology, seemingly ready for industrialization. We consider them as hardware AI with support for traditional algorithms commonly used in HPC. However, the community needs to determine whether these proofs of concept translate into readily usable HPC stacks. On the hardware side, we may have to cherry-pick the best suitable neuro-inspired features and combine them with, e.g., sufficiently fast interconnects and programmability to actually outperform current HPC systems. In addition, we need to adapt algorithms and software to make onboarding easier for users. Performance and energy efficiency are two significant concerns driving capital and operational expenses, returns on investment, and, hence, the deployment of HPC systems. However, they are not exclusive. IT security, multi-tenancy, and spare parts are just a few examples that may seem mundane from a neuromorphic perspective, but are mandatory for HPC systems. The following paper presents the perspective of a highperformance computing center eager to adopt promising neuroinspired technologies and to serve the academic and industrial communities. ... mehrWe conclude with a call to action.