Many of the technologies we rely on today—including artificial intelligence (AI)—are built on the invention of the transistor, a tiny switch that powers everything from smartphones to supercomputers. Over the years, transistors have become smaller and more powerful, but we’re now reaching the limits of how much further they can be improved using traditional methods. To keep advancing, researchers are exploring new ways to build smarter, more efficient technologies.
One exciting direction involves spintronics—a field that uses the tiny magnetic properties of electrons to store and process information. These spintronic devices work well with today’s computer chip technology and offer new possibilities for energy-efficient computing.
Jian-Ping Wang,
University of Minnesota
In the first part of my talk, I’ll introduce a new concept called Computational Random-Access Memory, or CRAM. Unlike traditional computers, which waste energy constantly moving data between memory and processing units, CRAM can do both tasks in one place. This breakthrough is made possible by spintronic memory devices, and we’ve recently shown how it works through experiments. CRAM also has the flexibility to adapt to different tasks, making it a great fit for future AI systems. In the second part, I’ll share our latest progress in making spintronic devices even more efficient by using new materials and discovering new physical effects. For example, we’ve developed a material called Ni4W that helps spintronic devices switch faster and use less energy. We’ve also found new ways to control these devices using electric signals, which could lead to even better performance. Finally, I’ll talk about exciting future applications for spintronics, including new types of computing that mimic randomness and uncertainty—similar to how the brain works—and potential uses in medical technologies like brain stimulation and sensing.
Jian-Ping Wang is a Distinguished McKnight University Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Minnesota, where he holds the prestigious Robert F. Hartmann Chair. He’s recognized as a fellow by three major organizations: the National Academy of Inventors, IEEE, and the American Physical Society. He studied physics in China, earning his bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. degrees before doing research in Singapore. There, he led a major program focused on magnetic materials and data storage. In 2002, he joined the University of Minnesota and went on to lead two major research centers across the nation, focused on spintronics—a cutting-edge field that explores how tiny magnets can be used to store and process information.
Dr. Wang has helped launch four startup companies based on his lab’s discoveries. Over the years, he’s received several top awards for his work, including honors for groundbreaking research in magnetic memory and excellence in teaching. In 2006, he received the Information Storage Industry Consortium (INSIC) Technical Award. In 2010, he was honored with the Outstanding Professor Award. In 2019, he received the Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC) Technical Excellence Award. In 2024, he received the IEEE Magnetics Society Achievement Award, the highest recognition in his field.