In June 2026, China inaugurated a high-level optical computing laboratory in Shanghai, marking a significant step in its technological advancements.
This facility is expected to contribute to recent breakthroughs in optical computing, which may provide China with tools to circumvent existing US restrictions on artificial intelligence.
The implications of these developments could be substantial, as optical computing has the potential to greatly enhance AI capabilities.
Updates
Update at 08:01 UTC on 2026-06-25
South China Morning Post reported China opened a top-level optical computing laboratory in Shanghai in June after a string of breakthroughs in the field that could help get around US curbs on its development of artificial intelligence (AI). A decade after optical computing.
Sources: South China Morning Post