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In a world-first breakthrough, scientists at Tsinghua University in Beijing have now developed the world’s first optical chip, Taichi-II; it operates using just light!
Breakthrough in Optical AI Technology
A team of scientists from Tsinghua University in Beijing has developed the world’s first fully optical artificial intelligence chip, the Taichi-II, marking a significant leap in efficiency and performance for AI training systems,in a report by South China Morning Post. Unlike its predecessor, the Taichi-II chip operates entirely on light, eliminating the need for electronic computers in the AI training process. This innovation, published in the journal Nature, represents a crucial step forward in optical computing, potentially paving the way for large-scale experimental applications that address the growing demand for computational power with low energy consumption.
Addressing Global Chip Restrictions
The Taichi-II chip not only outperforms previous models but also provides a critical alternative for China amidst U.S. restrictions on advanced GPU chips for AI training. According to the research team led by professors Fang Lu and Dai Qionghai, this chip’s superior performance includes a tenfold increase in the speed of optical network training and a 40% improvement in classification task accuracy. In low-light environments, its energy efficiency improved by six orders of magnitude, highlighting its potential to revolutionize AI training processes under restrictive global conditions.
Future of Optical Computing in AI
The innovation of the Taichi-II chip centres on a new method called Fully Forward Mode (FFM) learning, which conducts machine learning directly on the optical chip, enabling parallel processing and high-precision training. The researchers believe this architecture could surpass GPUs in accelerating AI learning and envision a future where such optical chips form the backbone of AI model construction. This advancement could help China maintain its competitive edge in the global AI race, especially in light of ongoing technological restrictions.
(Visit the South China Morning Post for the full story)
*An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.
