News Computing

New computer chips do math with light

The photonic devices could pave the way for cheaper AI processing

A clear cable connects to the center of a dark-colored computer component.

A fiber optic cable routes laser light to this photonic accelerator — a device that uses light to speed up computation — made by Boston-based Lightelligence.

Lightelligence

By Kathryn Hulick

It’s a bright day for computing — literally.

Two tech companies have unveiled computer components that use laser light to process information. These futuristic processors could soon solve specific real-world problems faster and with lower energy requirements than conventional computers.