r/technology • u/Logical_Welder3467 • 13h ago

Hardware Nvidia outlines plans for using light for communication between AI GPUs by 2026 — silicon photonics and co-packaged optics may become mandatory for next-gen AI data centers

https://www.tomshardware.com/networking/nvidia-outlines-plans-for-using-light-for-communication-between-ai-gpus-by-2026-silicon-photonics-and-co-packaged-optics-may-become-mandatory-for-next-gen-ai-data-centers
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u/CatalyticDragon 13h ago

In case anyone is under the impression NVIDIA is innovating let me add needed context.

"Nvidia's roadmap will likely closely follow TSMC's COUPE roadmap"

Right. NVIDIA is just going to implement whatever cutting edge technology TSMC offers.

"The first generation is an optical engine for OSFP connectors, offering 1.6 Tb/s data transfer while reducing power consumption. The second generation moves into CoWoS packaging with co-packaged optics, enabling 6.4 Tb/s at the motherboard level. The third generation aims for 12.8 Tb/s within processor packages and targets further cuts in power and latency"

This is verbatim what TSMC laid out 18 months ago. So all we have here is a story about how NVIDIA is going to continue using TSMC - as is everyone else for the foreseeable.