At the recent Hot Chips 2024 symposium in Stanford, California, Intel highlighted its latest advances in AI technology, spanning data centers, cloud computing, edge and PC applications.
A key moment was the introduction of the industry’s first fully-integrated optical computational interconnect (OCI) chiplet, which is designed to improve high-speed AI data processing. This is something the company has previously talked about.
This new technology aims to improve AI data processing by offering higher bandwidth, lower power consumption, and better scalability for future computing infrastructures. The OCI chiplet, packaged together with an Intel CPU, supports 64 data transmission channels at 32 Gbps over 100 meters of optical fiber. This innovation aims to meet the growing demands of AI infrastructure, particularly in high-performance computing (HPC) and data centers.
Advanced packaging
Intel photonics architect Saeed Fathololoumi said the OCI chiplet is expected to “address the growing demands of AI infrastructure for higher bandwidth, lower power consumption and longer range.”
Intel's approach to integrated optics, as highlighted in a slide shared with ServingTheHomefocuses on using silicon photonics to enhance photonic integrated circuits (PICs). This involves advanced packaging for heterogeneous integration and tight coupling of optical engines with hosts such as XPUs, enabling the development of new systems and applications.
Another slide, shown below, provides further details and shows how Intel’s 4 Tbps (8 Tbps bi-directional) silicon photonics integrated circuit (IC) supports both parallel and serial host interfaces, optimized for power efficiency and a compact size. It includes features such as ring modulators, germanium photodetectors, and V-slot passive fiber coupling, making it ideal for high-volume silicon photonics platforms.
Pere Monclus, CTO of Intel’s Networking and Edge Group, said: “As AI workloads intensify, Intel’s deep industry experience allows us to understand what our customers need to drive innovation, creativity and ideal business outcomes. The OCI chiplet is a key part of our strategy to meet those needs with breakthrough technology.”
Intel’s emphasis on the OCI chiplet reflects its commitment to maintaining a leadership position in technological innovation, even as it faces stiff competition in the AI sector. While companies like Nvidia have seen significant growth driven by AI demand (reaching a market cap of $2.928 trillion) and AMD has increased its market cap to $240.44 billion, Intel has not seen similar gains.
Intel, currently ranked 182nd by market capitalization at $94.24 billion, down from a peak of $502 billion in 2000, is aiming to regain its competitive edge, but could it be too little, too late?
A comment below ServingTheHomeThe company’s coverage makes an interesting suggestion: “It’s products like this that make me think AMD should bite the bullet and buy Intel. Keep the networking and optics, keep the software, definitely keep the marketing department, definitely keep the unrecognized product design department and poor support practices. Sell off the CPU and GPU divisions, maybe someone in the EU or South Korea wants them.”
