The Center for Optics, Photonics and Lasers (COPL) in Canada has developed an innovative optical chip that significantly improves data transmission energy efficiency in artificial intelligence systems. The research findings have been published in Nature Photonics, achieving ultra-high-speed transmission of 1000 gigabits per second by simultaneously utilizing the intensity and phase properties of light signals.

The chip employs microring modulator technology, with miniature ring structures made of silicon precisely controlling optical signals. First author Alireza Geravand stated: "Our transmission speed has increased from 56 gigabits per second to 1000 gigabits per second, requiring only 4 joules of energy to transmit the data equivalent to 100 million books." This energy efficiency is comparable to the amount needed to heat 1 milliliter of water by 1 degree Celsius.

Current AI data centers rely on large numbers of processors working together, with energy consumption becoming an increasingly prominent issue. Geravand noted: "Traditional systems can span several kilometers, but our technology enables processors to communicate as efficiently as if they were only a few meters apart." The research team predicts that this breakthrough technology could be put into practical use in the coming years, providing more sustainable solutions for AI development.