Computing in a flash

摘要

ARTIFICIAL intelligence has a bright future. At last, we have computer processors that use lasers to tackle complex algorithms faster and more efficiently than standard chips can. These optical processors specialise in operations that dominate artificial intelligence, meaning that light could provide the processing power needed to make better, smarter AIs. "Compared to a standard processor, we can do around 10 to 100 times the processing power, with a quarter of the energy consumption," says Nick New, CEO of Optalysys, based in Yorkshire, UK. "And this is just the start: there are easy improvements to make."