Silicon Photonics Lights The Way To More Efficient Data Centers

As AI and large language models drive increasing data movement in data centers, traditional copper interconnects are becoming inadequate in terms of bandwidth and energy efficiency. Silicon photonics ... Read original →

Silicon photonics is transitioning from niche to mainstream in data center interconnects—not due to incremental innovation, but because copper has hit fundamental physical limits under AI-driven data deluge. Foundries like GlobalFoundries and imec must overhaul PDKs to accommodate optoelectronic thermal stress models, while AMD accelerates toward co-packaged optics (CPO), forcing optical module vendors to abandon pluggables for integrated solutions. Material constraints in silicon modulation are fueling lithium niobate heterogeneous integration, giving startups like NLM Photonics a strategic foothold. Geopolitically, inclusion of photonic ICs on U.S.-EU export control lists could trigger supply chain disruptions akin to advanced lithography equipment bans. Within 18 months, the industry will battle over 'electro-optical co-design' standards—where victory means not just energy efficiency, but architectural dominance in next-gen AI infrastructure.