Science & technology | Information technology

Artificial intelligence and the rise of optical computing

Photonic data-processing is well-suited to the age of deep learning

Modern information technology (IT) relies on division of labour. Photons carry data around the world and electrons process them. But, before optical fibres, electrons did both—and some people hope to complete the transition by having photons process data as well as carrying them.

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This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “Enlightened computing”

From the December 24th 2022 edition

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