#AI #analog #circuit #design

This is a group webinar watch event hosted by the K-W Chapter of the Solid-State Circuits Society. All interested professionals, faculty and students are welcome to attend. Light refershments will be available.

 

Abstract:

 

With the rapid rise of AI in various fields, we naturally wonder whether it can help or even replace analog designers. We first ponder a general question: how can AI become a competent analog designer? We postulate that AI must climb a five-level pyramid. At the foundation, AI must analyze circuits correctly. This ability appears to be maturing in some AI tools, especially if it simply requires writing and solving equations. The second level relates to intuition: can AI understand a structure well enough to predict its behavior as we vary certain parameters? Possessed by good analog engineers, this key skill guides the design process, distinguishing them from “SPICE monkeys.”

 

At the third level, AI must be able to design a given circuit topology according to certain specifications. The task of training AI for this purpose presents formidable challenges. The fourth level extends this ability to multiple topologies for the same function, seeking a global optimum. The fifth level of the pyramid calls for innovation in circuits, in a manner similar to what humans have done for a century.

 

In this presentation, we evaluate the present capabilities of AI and probe its conceptual understanding beyond what it can find online. We begin with analysis questions and then extend our effort toward circuit design.