The signal
Companies are commercializing optical connections inside data centres, and several startups are developing chips that do calculations with light. Full optical computers remain experimental.
Where it could lead
Power and heat are now the biggest limits on AI. If light can take over the most energy-hungry parts, data centres could do more with the power they have.
Evidence that would strengthen the case
- Optical interconnects become standard in AI data centres
- Optical processors beat electronic chips on real workloads
- Manufacturing at scale with standard chip factories
What could prevent it
- Electronic chips keep improving fast enough
- Optical chips prove hard to manufacture reliably
- Converting between light and electricity eats up the savings