Breakthrough Silicon-Photonics Chip Speeds Up AI Processing, US

Researchers have developed a groundbreaking AI chip that operates on light waves. The innovative chip, a creation of a team at the University of Pennsylvania, combines silicon with photonic emitters to manipulate light waves for mathematical computations in AI processors. This development is a significant leap towards overcoming the limitations of traditional silicon transistors as the industry approaches the sub-2 nm era. The silicon-photonic chip specializes in processing vector-matrix multiplications crucial for neural networks and AI applications. By utilizing light waves instead of electric currents, this chip can significantly enhance processing speeds, energy efficiency, and data privacy. Additionally, the chip’s ability to process multiple computations simultaneously without storing data in temporary memory makes it highly secure against hacking attempts. The research team has partnered with a commercial foundry to integrate this technology into existing production facilities for AI GPU chips, promising accelerated training and classification processes. This breakthrough opens new horizons for the future of AI technology, offering a glimpse into a faster, more efficient, and more secure era of computing.