Engineering & Science
In a groundbreaking leap for artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and next-generation supercomputing, Chinese researchers have unveiled the world’s first ultra-highly parallel optical computing chip, known as the “Meteor-1.” Developed by the Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics (SIOM) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, this revolutionary chip can perform 100 simultaneous wavelength-based operations, representing a monumental advancement in AI acceleration, cloud computing, and high-performance data processing. Unlike traditional silicon-based processors, Meteor-1 harnesses the power of light waves using soliton microcombs and a Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) mesh, enabling massively parallel computing at unprecedented speeds while dramatically reducing power consumption. This breakthrough is being hailed as a game-changer for deep learning, neural networks, big data, cloud infrastructure, and quantum-inspired computing, positioning China at the forefront of semiconductor innovation and future computing technologies.
Author: Saikat Bhattacharya
