A research group hailing from Microsoft Research Cambridge in the United Kingdom, along with their collaborators, has published a paper in the prestigious journal Nature on the 'Analog Optical Computer' (AOC). The AOC ingeniously combines analog electronics with cutting - edge three - dimensional optical technology. This integration empowers it to efficiently carry out AI inference and combinatorial optimization tasks, bypassing the need for digital conversion. As a result, it significantly cuts down on energy consumption.

The AOC is equipped with robust noise - resistance capabilities. This unique feature enables it to run innovative neural models and tackle complex optimization problems with ease. Through a series of experiments, it has been proven that the AOC shines in multiple tasks. In fact, its energy efficiency improvements can reach an astonishing 100 - fold. This groundbreaking research was spearheaded by Microsoft Research Cambridge in the UK. Among the contributors to the paper's authorship is Chu Jiaqi, an alumnus of Shanghai Jiao Tong University.