Advanced materials for AI hardware and advanced computing

The exponentially increasing demands of computing capability in the era of artificial intelligence (AI) are driving the exploration of novel materials with unprecedented performance for scalable and efficient computation. This Editorial introduces a Special Topic dedicated to the search for advanced materials that enable the next generation of AI hardware and computing technologies. Focusing on deep fundamental mechanisms and emerging device physics, this Special Topic collection highlights recent progress and perspectives on magnetic, spintronic, memristive, and low-dimensional materials for advanced computation. These works illuminate a vibrant landscape of research at the intersection of condensed matter physics, materials science, electrical engineering, and AI hardware while providing an outlook on the design and implementation of innovative functional materials in the AI era.