Advancements in Content-Addressable Memory (CAM) Circuits: State-of-the-Art, Applications, and Future Directions in the AI Domain

Content-Addressable Memory (CAM) circuits, distinguished by their ability to accelerate data retrieval through a direct content-matching function, are increasingly crucial in the era of AI and increasing data computation. With the rise of AI models, hardware matching and hashing capabilities become essential, underscoring the need for a comprehensive survey of this evolving technology. This survey explores various CAM types across circuit designs and technologies, highlighting contributions to fields such as Machine Learning and genomics. We review 37 CAM cell designs, focusing on emerging trends in area and energy efficiency, pivotal for next-generation computing. Furthermore, we discuss current challenges and suggest future research directions in CAM technology.