Jakarta, INTI - Researchers in Australia built an ultra-compact artificial intelligence (AI) chip that is capable of performing calculations using the power of light at the speed of light. It can potentially reduce the energy footprint of AI computing drastically.
The prototype was developed at the Sydney Nano Hub of the University of Sydney. In a statement on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, the university said that the prototype utilizes photons instead of electrons that are usually used in traditional computers that rely on electricity.
The Nanophotonic AI Chip is More Energy Efficient
The study, published in Nature Communications, said the prototype can help develop more energy-efficient AI hardware as global AI demand continues to grow.
According to the study, the nanophotonic chip uses light, which travels without electrical resistance. The prototype performs calculations on a picosecond timescale or trillionths of a second, which is the time it takes light to pass through the nanostructures.
The researchers said the nanostructures collectively help form a neural network, or artificial neurons, that mimics the human brain's ability to recognize and complete calculations.
Conclusion
Researchers at the University of Sydney developed a nanophotonic AI chip that utilizes light to quickly do calculations without electrical resistance. The technology potentially can make AI hardware more energy efficient as AI demand increases globally.
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