Intel debuts Optical Compute Interconnect Chip

Intel has recently introduced a groundbreaking Optical Compute Interconnect (OCI) chip, capable of transmitting data at a rate of up to 4 Tbit/s across 64 channels. This development is significant in light of the growing demand for higher computing power in AI applications. The OCI chip utilizes silicon photonics technology to integrate lasers and optical amplifiers on the chip, along with an electrical integrated circuit. This allows for high bandwidth, low power consumption, and improved scalability for AI applications.

The OCI chip developed by Intel can transmit data at 32 Gbps through 64 channels over a distance of 100 m. It supports bidirectional data transfer of up to 4 Tbps, utilizing DWDM technology for data transmission. The hybrid nature of the chip, combining optical and electrical components, ensures energy efficiency and consumes only 5 picojoules per bit. Intel’s long-standing commitment to integrated photonics has positioned them as a leader in the field, with past developments indicating the potential for future advancements in computing architectures.

Thomas Liljeberg, Senior Director of Strategy and Product Management at Intel’s Integrated Photonic Solutions Group, emphasizes the significance of the OCI chip in enabling the integration of silicon photonic interconnects in next-generation computing systems. The chip’s capabilities in increasing bandwidth, reducing power consumption, and enhancing reach are critical for accelerating ML workloads and transforming high-performance AI infrastructure.

The integration of OCI chiplets in data centers plays a key role in meeting the growing demands for bandwidth and energy efficiency. High-performance computing applications benefit from the chip’s high data transfer speeds and low latency. Despite being in the prototype phase, Intel’s collaboration with select customers demonstrates the promising future of OCI technology and its potential to shape the next generation of computing and data processing architectures.

In conclusion, Intel’s introduction of the OCI chip marks a significant advancement in optical computing, catering to the evolving needs of AI and machine learning applications. The chip’s innovative design, leveraging silicon photonics technology, paves the way for enhanced data processing capabilities, energy efficiency, and scalability in AI infrastructure. As the demand for higher computational power continues to rise, developments like the OCI chip are essential for driving innovation in the field of optical computing.

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