Could a Light-Speed Chip Developed by a China-Led Team Revolutionize Ultra-Fast Processing?

An international team of scientists, led by researchers from Peking University, has developed a groundbreaking 100 gigahertz chip that utilizes light instead of electricity to synchronize processors, a significant advancement that could drive high-speed AI computing, next-generation communications, and remote sensing technologies. The all-optical design fundamentally changes how clock signals are generated for chips, potentially leading to faster and more efficient computing. The study highlights the crucial role of clock speed, with higher frequencies allowing CPUs to execute more instructions per second, thereby enhancing computing capabilities. The findings were recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Electronics.