Michio Kaku: Tweaking Moore's Law and the Computers of the Post-Silicon Era | Big Think

TL;DR

Moore's Law, predicting computer power doubling, faces limits due to silicon technology. Future solutions include quantum and molecular computers.

Transcript

Michio Kaku: Years ago, we physicists predicted the end of Moore’s Law that says a computer power doubles every 18 months. But we also, on the other hand, proposed a positive program. Perhaps molecular computers, quantum computers can takeover when silicon power is exhausted. But then the question is, what’s the timeframe? What is a realistic scena... Read More

Key Insights

• ⛔ Moore's Law is reaching its limits due to silicon technology constraints.
• 🫷 Three-dimensional and parallel processing chips are interim solutions to push Moore's Law.
• 💻 Molecular computers offer a potential future beyond silicon technology.
• 🥹 Quantum computing holds promise but faces challenges like de-coherence.
• ❓ The future of computing may involve a combination of different technologies.
• 🐿️ Intel is adapting to challenges with three-dimensional chip designs.
• 🧑‍🌾 Quantum computing has achieved limited computational feats so far.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is Moore's Law, and why is it significant?

Moore's Law predicts the exponential growth of computer power over time by doubling every 18 months, playing a crucial role in technological advancement.

Q: What are the challenges silicon technology faces in continuing Moore's Law?

Silicon technology is approaching physical limits in miniaturization, leading to heat and leakage issues that can hinder further progress in computing power.

Q: How do molecular computers work and what challenges do they face?

Molecular computers utilize molecular transistors as switches, but mass production and wiring them up pose significant challenges due to their small size.

Q: What are the main problems with quantum computing?

Quantum computing faces de-coherence issues where external disturbances can disrupt calculations, limiting its practicality despite its potential power.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Moore's Law, which predicts computer power doubling every 18 months, is facing challenges with silicon technology.

• Intel is moving towards three-dimensional chips but faces heat and leakage issues.

• The future of computing may involve molecular and quantum computers as silicon technology reaches its limits.