Reversible Computing: A Low-Energy Revolution for AI?

The inherent energy loss in computer computation, like Hansel and Gretel's discarded breadcrumbs, has long been a challenge. Landauer pioneered reversible computing, but it was initially deemed a dead end. Bennett's 'uncomputation' offered a new path, cleverly avoiding data deletion to reduce energy waste, but speed remained an issue. MIT engineers attempted low-loss chip designs, but progress was slow. Recently, as computer circuits approach physical limits and the demand for parallel AI computation rises, reversible computing has gained renewed interest. Earley's research precisely quantifies the energy savings, paving the way for commercial applications. The founding of Vaire Computing marks a milestone in the transition from theory to reality.