As the development and training of increasingly sophisticated AI models push the boundaries of compute power, traditional chip technologies have begun to reach their limits. In fact, a 2019 analysis conducted by OpenAI found that while the amount of power needed to train AI models doubled every two years between 1959 and 2012, this consumption rate had grown seven times faster beyond 2012. This has brought problems such as shortages of solid-state servers that Microsoft is reportedly facing -leading to an overall increase in cost of training a model such as ChatGPT from scratch to over four million dollars.
One potential solution for avoiding this issue is the use of photonic chips for AI training. Unlike conventional processors that rely on the flow of electric current, photonic chips use light to send signals. Photonic chips could offer improved performance due to the fact that light produces less heat than electricity, travels faster and is significantly less vulnerable to temperature fluctuations and electromagnetic fields.
OpenAI is an American artificial intelligence research laboratory founded by Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Greg Brockman and others. OpenAI is dedicated to researching and developing a broad range of AI technologies, including natural language processing, system optimization, robotics and robotics. OpenAI’s mission is to ensure that AI technology is developed safely and ethically to benefit humanity as a whole.
Sam Altman is an American computer scientist, entrepreneur and business executive who is the current CEO of Open AI. Prior to his work at Open AI, he was the President of the venture capital firm Y Combinator, where he continues to serve as a part-time partner. He is best known for his pioneering work in the field of artificial intelligence and is recognised as one of the foremost experts in the field. Altman is also well known for his advocacy of “altruistic capitalism” and has been vocal in his crusade for an AI-driven technology economy that contributes to humanity’s greater good.
