What is 'compute-in-memory' and why is it important for AI?

Compute-in-memory (CIM) is an emerging technology that integrates computing and memory on the same chip or within the same package, reducing the need to transfer data between separate processing and memory units. This approach is particularly important for AI applications, as it can significantly improve performance and reduce energy consumption. By minimizing data movement, CIM can help alleviate the 'memory wall' bottleneck that has become a major challenge in modern computing, especially for AI workloads that require massive amounts of data processing.