What photonics is and how it aims to cut water and energy use in AI data centers
The data center industry is weighing replacing copper cabling with photonics, a technology that transmits data with light instead of electrons. A typical 100 MW data center uses about 400 tonnes of copper, of which up to 70 go into servers and about 20 into network cabling. Because light generates less heat than electricity, less energy would be needed for cooling. Nvidia backs the technology, but manufacturing, cost and heat-sensitivity challenges remain.
In 45 seconds
- Photonics transmits data using light photons instead of electrons through copper, and its main advantage is that it generates less heat and therefore requires less energy for cooling.
- A typical 100 MW data center uses about 400 tonnes of copper; up to 70 tonnes are in servers and about 20 in network cabling.
- Nvidia backs the technology, but the transition means combining different engineering traditions and supply chains, with final packaging concentrated in Taiwan.
Read the full story at BBC
IASummary generated by artificial intelligence from a story by BBC. It may contain errors: the original source prevails.
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