AI Chip Smaller Than a Grain of Salt — Runs on Light & Thinks at 3 Terahertz

Scientists in the Netherlands have achieved a breakthrough that could redefine computing forever. Researchers at QuiX Quantum have developed an AI processor smaller than a grain of salt that runs entirely on light instead of electricity.
This revolutionary photonic AI chip measures just 0.5 millimeters and mounts directly onto the tip of an optical fiber. By using photons rather than electrons, the chip performs neural network calculations at speeds of up to 3 terahertz, making it nearly 3,000 times faster than modern GPUs—while consuming almost zero power.
Unlike traditional processors that generate heat and waste energy, this light-based AI uses a diffractive neural network, where the physical structure of the chip itself performs the computation. Data enters as light and exits as an answer instantly, with no electronic processing involved.
The potential applications are massive. From real-time cancer detection during surgery to nanosecond reaction times in self-driving cars and unbreakable quantum communications, this technology could transform medicine, transportation, and global security.
Even more shocking—the chip costs less than €5 to manufacture and works with existing fiber-optic infrastructure. Commercial deployment is expected in 2026.
This isn’t science fiction.
This is the future of AI—and it just arrived.