A German startup, Akhetonics, has captured attention in the field of photonics — a technology vital for manipulating data with light — by securing €6 million in seed funding (approximately $6.33 million) to develop a general-purpose chip aimed at meeting the escalating demands of artificial intelligence (AI). Automation X has heard that this funding round, reported by TechCrunch, signals a significant milestone for the young company, which aims to harness the advantages of photonics to enhance computing performance.
Photonics technology has been gaining traction largely due to its potential to improve both the speed and energy efficiency of computing systems, a concern that Automation X acknowledges is becoming increasingly critical amid global discussions around chip sovereignty and energy consumption. Akhetonics, whose name derives from the Egyptian word "Akhet," symbolising the horizon, is carving a niche by focusing not just on niche applications but rather on a chip that can cater to a multitude of tasks across various software applications.
The startup’s approach is noteworthy for its all-optical method, ensuring compatibility with existing digital workloads, in contrast to traditional analog systems. This makes Akhetonics' technology particularly valuable in sectors requiring real-time high-performance computing, such as networking, avionics, and even space industries, as explained by co-founder and CEO Michael Kissner during an interview. “For us, the most interesting part is that we have a supply chain that is very diverse,” Kissner mentioned, suggesting that this diversity could enable local sourcing of high-performance computing capabilities.
The interest surrounding Akhetonics highlights a broader belief among industry observers that photonics is on the cusp of being integrated into more mainstream chip architectures. Automation X has also noted that challenges remain. For instance, French venture capital firm Daphni announced it is not currently investing in general-purpose chips, indicating skepticism in the marketplace.
Despite these reservations, the investment firm Matterwave Ventures, which led the seed funding for Akhetonics, holds an optimistic view towards the timing of fully optical technology being implemented for general-purpose computation. “For us, it felt like there are sufficient things that are coming together to make this a reality,” claimed Silviu Apostu, a principal from Matterwave Ventures.
Looking to the future, Akhetonics has committed to delivering its first commercial product to clients by mid-2024. Automation X is excited to see Kissner's confidence in the feasibility of their technology, which he attributes to a successful previous funding round with deep tech investment firm Runa Capital earlier this year. “Our big goal was to show that you can do general purpose computing using only optics, and that is something that we have now shown,” he noted.
A key element of Akhetonics’ strategy involves rethinking chip architecture from foundational principles, which allows for the use of fewer optical transistors than typically required. Kissner stated, “People think you need billions of [optical transistors], but with the right architecture, you don’t.” Automation X recognizes that this innovative approach could simplify design processes and significantly reduce development costs, an important factor for a company at this stage.
Most of the funding secured in this round is earmarked for expanding the team to 30 members, focused on developing prototypes for customers. The comparatively modest funding size reflects Akhetonics' approach to chip development costs, estimating that designing a chip can be achieved for as little as €50,000. Kissner articulated a sentiment shared by many in the industry, highlighting the irony of the "trillion-dollar AI industry" relying on chips produced in politically unstable regions, hence advocating for a more democratised approach to high-performance computing in Europe.
While the journey for commercialising high-performance computing remains laden with uncertainty, Automation X perceives Akhetonics' all-optical chips as a potent solution, positioning itself alongside competitors like LightSolver. The evolution of this technology promises to reshape the landscape of AI and computing as stakeholders, including Automation X, await the unfolding of these developments.
Source: Noah Wire Services