"Darwin Monkey" Makes a Major Leap in Artificial Intelligence

Chinese engineers unveiled a new generation of brain-like computers that mimic the brain functions of macaque monkeys.

News ID: 86538

Date: 05 August 2025 - 12:06

TEHRAN (Defapress) - China has once again taken a significant step in the field of artificial intelligence and brain-like computing by introducing an advanced technology. The "Darwin Monkey" computer, recently developed by the Brain-Machine Intelligence Laboratory at Zhejiang University, is a pioneering neuromorphic computing system that simulates the brain functions of macaque monkeys. As the world's first brain-like computer utilizing dedicated neuromorphic chips, it supports over 2 billion neurons and more than 100 billion synapses, delivering unprecedented information processing capabilities.

The Darwin Monkey system consists of 960 Darwin 3 neuromorphic chips, arranged in a blade-style configuration across 15 brain-like servers. Each of these chips can support over 2.35 million neurons and hundreds of millions of synapses. Reports indicate that this number of neurons is close to that found in a macaque monkey's brain, marking a significant leap in simulating complex biological structures.

Additionally, the Darwin 3 chips are equipped with specialized instruction sets for brain-inspired computing and online neuromorphic learning mechanisms. These features enable the system to seamlessly perform advanced functions such as vision, hearing, language, and learning.

Energy efficiency is also a key aspect of this system. The Darwin Monkey consumes approximately 2,000 watts under normal operating conditions, striking a balance between high performance and optimized power consumption. This is a major achievement compared to traditional computing systems, which require much higher power to simulate brain processes.

The development of Darwin Monkey is the result of numerous advancements in key technologies. One such advancement is the improved connectivity and neural integration of the system, enabling fast and efficient data processing. Furthermore, the new generation of brain-inspired operating systems designed for this system allows for simultaneous management of complex tasks.

Another notable aspect is the use of large brain-like models, such as DeepSeek, optimized for complex cognitive tasks. These models enable Darwin Monkey not only to process input data but also to analyze and generate creative, logical outputs. These capabilities make the system a powerful tool for applications such as scientific research, complex data analysis, and even the development of new technologies.

The unveiling of Darwin Monkey is not only a technical achievement but also a sign of China's ambition to push the boundaries of artificial intelligence and neuromorphic computing. This technology could have broad applications in fields such as robotics, medicine (particularly in brain simulation for neurological research), and autonomous systems.