This “light-speed” AI chip could help speed up AI processing AND reduce energy use #ai #technology

Description

AI chip startup Lightmatter has developed Passage, an optical interconnect system that embeds fiber-optic connections directly beneath computer processors to address AI computing bottlenecks. The technology converts electrical signals to laser light using microring resonators, enabling data to travel at light speed through glass pathways. Unlike competitors who place optical connections beside processors, Lightmatter positions them underneath using silicon interposers with integrated optical circuits. The company claims Passage can reduce data center energy consumption by 6-20 times compared to copper connections, solving critical challenges as AI systems require multiple processors working simultaneously on massive calculations. The $4.4 billion company plans production deployment by late 2025, having raised $850 million to commercialize the technology.