Project description
Photonic hardware for flexible definitions of AI functionality
The rapid growth of AI is driving demand for more powerful and energy-efficient computing hardware. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the WINGS-AI project will develop a new class of photonic hardware that harnesses neural-network parallelism using compact, low-energy non-linear photonic chips and innovative model-free training methods. The project will create programmable building blocks within a non-linear optical substrate based on lithium niobate. These advances will enable AI functions to be implemented directly in hardware, resulting in physical-layer neural networks whose operations are distributed across a continuous non-linear optical system.
Objective
Artificial intelligence (AI) is disrupting nearly every aspect of modern life, including powerful generative models like ChatGPT which are capable of generating human-like text and images. However, the prevalence of AI comes at a growing cost that is clearly unsustainable, and new solutions for AI hardware are urgently needed. The aim of my project is to directly address this challenge by developing a new class of photonic hardware – specifically a Wave-based Integrated Nonlinear Generative System for Artificial Intelligence (WINGS-AI) to implement the inherent parallelism of neural networks in a low energy, low footprint integrated nonlinear photonic chip, paired with innovative and model-free training approaches that account for fabrication non-idealities.
The key physical concept underlying the project is to implement fundamental building blocks in a non-structured, spatially continuous yet fully programmable nonlinear optical substrate based on a Lithium Niobate photonic chip. This is a major conceptual shift when compared to the current state of the art for integrated photonic AI which is focused on (and limited by) the use of pre-fabricated lithography-based topologies. I will be able to near-arbitrarily define the functionality and transformations of AI computational elements as training and optimization targets of the continuous medium, yielding a physical layer NN with operations distributed along a continuous, nonlinear dynamical system.
I will perform this work at the CNRS institute FEMTO-ST (France) with primary host Dr. Daniel Brunner and at Cornell University (USA) with secondment host Prof. Peter McMahon whose laboratory has recently demonstrated the programmable nonlinear chip in a non-AI context. Combining the expertise of both institutions creates a unique opportunity to advance next-generation photonic generative AI. This project WINGS-AI would profoundly aid me reaching professional maturity as an independent PI in this cutting-edge field.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences computer and information sciences artificial intelligence generative artificial intelligence
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Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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75794 Paris
France
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