Breakthrough optical processor lets AI...

Researchers at Tsinghua University developed the Optical Feature Extraction Engine (OFE2), an optical engine that processes data at 12.5 GHz using light rather than electricity. Its integrated diffraction and data preparation modules enable unprecedented speed and efficiency for AI tasks. Demonstrations in imaging and trading showed improved accuracy, lower latency, and reduced power demand. This innovation pushes optical computing toward real-world, high-performance AI.

Modern artificial intelligence (AI) systems, from robotic surgery to high-frequency trading, rely on processing streams of raw data in real time. Extracting important features quickly is critical, but conventional digital processors are hitting physical limits. Traditional electronics can no longer reduce latency or increase throughput enough to keep up with today's data-heavy applications.

Turning to Light for Faster ComputingResearchers are now looking to light as a solution. Optical computing -- using light instead of electricity to handle complex calculations -- offers a way to dramatically boost speed and efficiency. One promising approach involves optical diffraction operators, thin plate-like structures that perform mathematical operations as light passes through them. These systems can process many signals at once with low energy use. However, maintaining the stable, coherent light needed for such computations at speeds above 10 GHz has proven extremely difficult.