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German researchers have turned a fiber optic cable into a computational device that runs some AI models, using only light, better than silicon chips. (www.techradar.com)

submitted 6 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Silicon computing is starting to run up against hard limits when it comes to energy usage. Bitcoin mining is currently using 2% of the USA's energy. Data Centers are projected to be using a third of Ireland's electricity output by 2026.

However it seems next-generation solutions are on the horizon, and this is one of them. Transitioning computing to energy-efficient new technologies is another front in the war to slow climate change.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago (1 children)

The solution is right in front of us. Stop burning fossil fuels. We could do it tomorrow, but we don't want too bcz it would lower people's quality of life, and make billionaires less rich, heavy emphasis on the later statement.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Efficiency still either burns less fossil fuels or gets more out of renewables, it helps either way.