“The real progress in AI will come not from making machines think like humans, but from making them compute like nature.” - Demis Hassabis, CEO, DeepMind
Physics of light-based computing and the future of AI
Modern computers rely on electrons to process data, but this physical approach limits speed and increases energy demand. Scientists are now exploring light-based or optical computing, which uses photons particles of light to transmit and process information at incredible speeds with greater energy efficiency.
The power of nonlinear light
Researchers from Tampere University in Finland and Université Marc le Louis Pasteur in France have discovered that when intense light pulses pass through glass fibres, they behave in complex, nonlinear ways. This means light waves interact and generate new frequencies, creating opportunities for faster, more adaptable computing processes.
Light as a learning mechanism
The study applied these properties to an extreme learning machine (ELM), a type of AI model. Instead of relying on heavy computational adjustments, the ELM used light signals through optical fibres to process data. By encoding images as light pulses, researchers achieved accuracy rates exceeding 93% in digit recognition tasks comparable to traditional systems but with far less energy use.
Speed, energy, and scalability
By harnessing the natural speed of light, optical computing could make future AI systems faster, leaner, and capable of processing vast datasets with minimal power consumption. Scientists believe this breakthrough could pave the way for scalable, eco-friendly AI models that overcome current hardware limitations.
Looking ahead
The researchers emphasise that this work is only the beginning. Further exploration into light’s polarization and nonlinear effects could unlock entirely new ways for AI to perceive, compute, and learn.
Summary
Light-based computing leverages the properties of photons to perform AI tasks faster and with less energy than traditional electronic systems. Using nonlinear optical interactions, this method could transform how AI models learn and operate, offering a path toward sustainable, high-speed computation.Food for thought
If machines begin computing at the speed of light, will human intelligence need to redefine what “fast thinking” really means?AI concept to learn: Optical computing
Optical computing uses light particles instead of electrical currents to process information. Since photons travel faster and interact differently than electrons, this approach allows computers to operate at higher speeds, handle more data simultaneously, and consume far less energy than traditional systems.
[The Billion Hopes Research Team shares the latest AI updates for learning and awareness. This is not a professional, financial, personal or medical advice. Please consult domain experts before making decisions. Feedback welcome!]
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