Phase-Change Memory for In-Memory Computing

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B9, L2, R2325

This talk, structured as a tutorial, will elucidate the core principles of In-memory computing (IMC), showing how the physical properties and inherent organization of memory devices can help overcome the limitations of conventional data processing architectures.

In-memory computing (IMC) is an emerging computational paradigm aimed at addressing the processor-memory divide in modern computing systems. This talk, structured as a tutorial, will elucidate the core principles of IMC, showing how the physical properties and inherent organization of memory devices can help overcome the limitations of conventional data processing architectures. We will highlight how phase-change memory (PCM) is a leading technology for realizing IMC. The talk is structured as follows: first, a foundational overview of IMC; second, a review of the current state-of-the-art in the design and fabrication of PCM-based IMC chips; and finally, a survey of the broader application landscape. We will conclude by outlining promising, interdisciplinary research directions in this rapidly evolving field.

Presenters

Ghazi Sarwat Syed, Research Staff Member, IBM Research, Switzerland

Brief Biography

Dr. Ghazi Sarwat Syed is a Research Staff Member at IBM Research–Zurich, where he conducts research on processing-in-memory accelerators across both electronic and optical platforms. He holds a Ph.D. Materials Science from the University of Oxford, United Kingdom. Dr. Syed has authored 40 publications, delivered 16 invited talks/tutorials, and holds 35 international patents in the field. He has also contributed to the development of IBM’s commercial inference infrastructure watsonx.ai for serving LLMs. In 2023, he was recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree. In the same year, he was also awarded the honorary title of IBM Master Inventor. Early this year, Dr. Syed was awarded the European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant to further his work on AI compute. Dr. Syed is a passionate advocate for science communication and STEM education, and is always eager to engage in discussions and initiatives supporting these cause.