China’s quantum leap in optical AI chips rings alarm bells for India

By harnessing 100 separate wavelengths of light, China’s optical chip enables massive parallel computing with minimal power use, delivering ultra-fast performance and scalability essential for AI, mobile devices, edge technologies, and advanced data centre applications

China has unveiled a cutting-edge innovation in computing: a 100-wavelength optical AI chip that processes data using light rather than electricity. This breakthrough not only advances China’s global tech ambitions but also underscores a growing strategic gap for countries like India in the race toward next-generation computing.

Unlike traditional silicon chips that use electrons, China’s optical chip manipulates photons—particles of light—across 100 separate wavelengths. This enables massive parallel data processing at unprecedented speeds, with significantly reduced energy consumption. The result: a chip the size of a fingernail that can handle 100 data streams simultaneously, offering enormous potential for AI, edge computing, and high-performance applications.

Key advantages of the chip include ultra-fast processing, high energy efficiency, and compact scalability—traits vital for the future of mobile devices, AI models, and data centres.

India’s missed photonic moment

What makes this development more than just a technical milestone is its role in China’s long-term strategic vision. Backed by government initiatives and a tight collaboration between academia and industry, China has invested heavily in emerging technologies such as AI, quantum computing, and photonics. The country is actively working to eliminate dependence on foreign chipmakers, positioning itself as a dominant force in core digital infrastructure.

India, meanwhile, has made commendable progress in AI research, digital governance, and traditional semiconductor plans through programs like Digital India, Semicon India, and IndiaAI. However, optical chip development remains a blind spot in the national strategy.

Experts warn that this could lead to long-term vulnerabilities. If India continues focusing solely on silicon-based technologies, it risks falling behind as optical computing reshapes the global tech landscape. There is an urgent need to pivot toward photonics through a dedicated National Photonics Mission, the establishment of photonic R&D labs, and international collaborations with leaders like the US, Israel, and Japan.

India already holds assets in this space: top-tier optical research at IITs and IISc, emerging hardware startups, and a new semiconductor fab at IIT Madras. But to convert this foundation into global leadership, India must act decisively—before the window closes.