Engineers unveil light-based chip that boosts AI efficiency up to 100

A new generation of computer chip powered by light rather than electricity could revolutionise artificial intelligence, researchers say.

A team of engineers in the United States has developed a prototype device capable of making AI calculations between 10 and 100 times more energy-efficient than today’s best chips.

The breakthrough centres on one of the most power-hungry operations in machine learning: convolution. This process allows AI systems to recognise patterns in photos, videos and even written text, but it consumes vast amounts of electricity on conventional processors.

The new design instead uses lasers and microscopic lenses etched directly onto circuit boards. In laboratory tests, the chip matched the accuracy of electronic chips—achieving 98% success when identifying handwri