Google Connected 9,000 AI Chips With Mirrors

Google has connected 9,000 AI chips using optical interconnects instead of copper cables. The system uses thousands of microscopic mirrors that physically tilt in real time to redirect light beams between chips, eliminating electrical resistance, heat, and signal loss. This approach means adding more chips doesn't degrade network performance, and if a chip fails, mirrors simply redirect light around it in microseconds with no rewiring needed. The innovation signals a shift in AI hardware progress from transistor miniaturization toward faster data movement between chips.