Optoelectronic intelligence

General intelligence involves the integration of many sources of information into a coherent, adaptive model of the world. To design and construct hardware for general intelligence, we must consider principles of both neuroscience and very-large-scale integration. For large neural systems capable of general intelligence, the attributes of photonics for communication and electronics for computation are complementary and interdependent. Using light for communication enables high fan-out as well as low-latency signaling across large systems with no traffic-dependent bottlenecks. For computation, the inherent nonlinearities, high speed, and low power consumption of Josephson circuits are conducive to complex neural functions. Operation at 4K enables the use of single-photon detectors and silicon light sources, two features that lead to efficiency and economical scalability. Here, I sketch a concept for optoelectronic hardware, beginning with synaptic circuits, continuing through wafer-scale integration, and extending to systems interconnected with fiber-optic tracts, potentially at the scale of the human brain and beyond.

Automated summary

General intelligence involves integrating multiple sources of information into a coherent, adaptive model of the world. Designing hardware for general intelligence requires consideration of principles from neuroscience and very-large-scale integration. Photonics for communication and electronics for computation are complementary and interdependent attributes in large neural systems capable of general intelligence.