Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have created a fully integrated photonic processor. This processor can perform all key operations of a deep neural network using light.
This innovation promises to improve the speed and energy efficiency of real-time deep learning applications. Examples include autonomous navigation and high-speed telecommunications.
The photonic processor completes key operations for a machine learning classification task in under half a nanosecond. It achieves over 92% accuracy, comparable to traditional hardware. The chip was made using commercial foundry processes, which could enable large-scale manufacturing.