A group of engineers has created a breakthrough computer chip that relies on light rather than electricity to carry out one of the most energy-demanding functions in artificial intelligence: identifying images and detecting patterns.
By shifting to light, the chip requires far less energy, achieving efficiencies that are 10 to 100 times greater than today’s chips running the same types of calculations. This innovation could ease the massive strain AI places on power grids while also supporting the development of more advanced and capable AI models.
The key operation involved is known as “convolution,” a process central to how AI interprets photos, videos, and even written language. At present, convolution is highly resource-intensive and time-consuming. The new design solves this by integrating lasers and tiny lenses directly onto circuit boards, allowing the chip to complete these computations with significantly less energy and greater speed.
In early trials, the chip achieved about 98% accuracy when recognizing handwritten digits, matching the performance of conventional electronic chips.
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