How the world can cope with the power demands of artificial intelligence

The world must transform its technology infrastructure to ensure artificial intelligence fulfills its potential as a transformative moment in digital innovation.

New technologies such as generative AI require enormous amounts of computing power, which will place enormous strain on power grids and raise questions about sustainability.

But pioneering technologists are working on a potential game-changer that may go some way to solving these problems: photonics.

John Gallant, enterprise consulting director of CIO.com, and Vito Mabrucco, chief marketing officer of NTT Corp., recently had an in-depth discussion about exactly how photonics technology could help meet the performance needs of AI.

Mabrucco began by explaining that AI will be used exponentially higher demands on networks for transmitting large amounts of data.

He said: “We know that the current infrastructure we have cannot possibly support all the new innovations that will come from the very large and widespread implementation of AI.”

The demands of AI require a completely new approach – a paradigm shift that replaces electronics-based computing and networking with photonics-based computing and networking.

Photonics addresses a variety of issues and concerns: First, because photonics uses less energy than electronics, it can reduce the amount of energy required to do the same amount of work. This is critical as there are legitimate concerns that AI will exceed the capacity of the power grid.

Photonics technology also offers exponentially higher bandwidth rates with lower latency. This enables use cases such as near real-time disaster recovery via photonics-based connections in industries such as banking and finance, vehicle-to-vehicle communications in an autonomous vehicle scenario, and real-time edge-to-data center connections for robotics applications in factories or remote mining or mining sites the oil and gas industry.

How does it work?

Mabrucco explained that NTT is working to downsize fiber optic technology, which has been used for decades to transmit data over long distances (think submarine cables), for use in computers and networking devices, even down to the chip level.

He also says that photonics can “change the paradigm of computing” by enabling a disaggregation of the traditional computing stack.

Photonics-based connections allow companies to create efficient pools of processing units for specific use cases, such as: B. large language model (LLM) data processing in one location, data storage in another location, and a high-speed connection between the two.

NTT takes the lead

NTT is taking a leadership role on several fronts, Mabrucco said. NTT, together with Sony and Intel, launched the IOWN Global Forum. Over 150 leading organizations are involved with the goal of achieving early and successful use cases that can then be scaled.

Mabrucco also encouraged CIOs to participate in the IOWN Global Forum.

NTT has its own internal principles that guide its approach to AI. NTT believes that AI should respect human rights and diversity; that it is fair, unbiased and transparent; that it protects personal data; that it is safe; and that it will not only create new business opportunities, but also benefit people and the planet.

Regarding NTT’s AI charter, Mabrucco said NTT wants to take a leadership role in AI governance and ethics. It’s clear that tech companies need to understand the impact this technology will have if it is to deliver on the promise of safe and trustworthy AI.

Watch the entire discussion here:

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The world must
transform its technology infrastructure to ensure artificial intelligence works
is aware of its potential as a transformative moment in digital innovation. New technologies,
B. generative AI, require enormous amounts of computing power to be used
The power grids are under enormous stress and raise questions about sustainability. But groundbreaking
Technologists are working on a potential game-changer that could solve this problem
these topics: photonics. John Gallant,
CIO.com’s Enterprise Consulting Director and Vito Mabrucco, NTT Corp. Chief
Marketing Officer, recently had a detailed discussion about exactly how
Photonics technology could help meet the energy needs of AI. Mabrucco began by explaining that AI will be used
exponentially higher demands on networks for transmitting large amounts of data. He said, “We know that
The current infrastructure we have cannot possibly support all the new ones
Innovations that will arise from the very broad and wide and deep
Implementing AI.” The requirements of AI are calling
for a completely new approach – a paradigm shift that replaces the electronic-based one
Computing and Networking with Photonics-Enabled Computing and Networking. Photonics deals with a
Variety of problems and concerns: First, because photonics uses less energy than
Electronics can reduce the amount of energy required for the same performance
work. This is crucial because there are legitimate concerns about AI
will exceed the capacity of the power grid. Photonic technology
also delivers exponentially higher bandwidth rates with lower latency. The
enables use cases such as near real-time disaster recovery via photonics-based
Connections in industries such as banking and finance, vehicle-to-vehicle communication
in an autonomous vehicle scenario and real-time edge-to-data center
Connections for robotics applications in factories or remote locations
Mining or oil and gas industry. How does it work? Mabrucco explained
NTT is working to adopt fiber optic technology that has been used for decades
to transmit data over long distances (think submarine cables) and make them smaller
for use in computers and network devices, even down to the chip
Level. He says that too
Photonics can “change the paradigm of computing” by enabling disaggregation
of the traditional computing stack. With photonics-based
Networking allows organizations to create efficient pools
Processing units for specific use cases, e.g. B. Large Language Model (LLM)
Data processing in one location, data storage in another location and a
High speed connection between the two. NTT takes the lead
role NTT takes one
Mabrucco said he has taken a leadership role on several fronts. NTT also created
Sony and Intel, the IOWN Global Forum. Over 150 leading organizations are participating
involved with the aim of achieving early and successful use cases
can then be scaled. Mabrucco also encouraged
CIOs should participate in the IOWN Global Forum. NTT has its own internal
A set of principles that guide the approach to AI. NTT believes AI should do this
respect human rights and diversity; that it is fair, unbiased and transparent;
that it protects personal data; that it is safe; and that it won’t just be like that
They create new business opportunities, but also benefit people and the planet. Mabrucco said about NTT’s AI charter NTT wanted to take a leadership role in AI governance
and ethics. It’s clear that tech companies need to understand how this works
Technology will have an impact if it is to deliver on the promise of a safe and secure solution
trustworthy AI.