Chinese researchers have unveiled an autonomous bicycle powered by a new type of artificial intelligence chip.

There are currently two general approaches towards developing artificial general intelligence: one based on neuroscience, attempting to closely mimic the brain; and a second that is computer-science-oriented, which uses computers to perform machine-learning algorithms.

The ultimate goal would be to combine the two, but the systems use distinct and incompatible platforms, thereby limiting the development of artificial general intelligence.

Researcher Luping Shi and colleagues from China’s Tsinghua University have developed an electronic chip that can integrate both approaches.

Their hybrid chip has many functional cores that are highly reconfigurable, enabling it to accommodate both machine learning algorithms and brain-inspired circuits.

The processing capabilities of this hybrid chip are demonstrated in an unmanned bicycle system.

This unique hybrid chip allows the bike to simultaneously process the difficult tasks of balancing and propelling itself, detecting and avoiding objects, responding to verbal commands, and tracking and following a person.

A paper on the development is accessible here, and a demonstration can be seen in the video below.