"Optics is the next memory." - Vikram Sekar

I think we need to stop looking only at the GPUs and start paying attention to the “plumbing.”

Data center performance today is defined by optics as much as, if not more than, silicon.

Drawing on my background in physical layer testing, I created this ecosystem map (thank you Gemini!) to show exactly how companies like Meta, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) are physically connecting their AI clusters.

From DSPs to subsea cables, this is the supply chain powering the next generation of cloud.

Note on the ecosystem: While the diagram shows direct lines for simplicity, the relationships vary. For instance, Broadcom and Marvell Technology are co-designing custom silicon directly with Meta's engineering teams. Companies like POET Technologies are the upstream innovators that supply critical optical engines powering modules built by integrators like Foxconn and Luxshare-Tech.

Worth noting, I tried to ensure in my mega prompt that the latest Gemini Pro model would generate the correct logo for each company in the infographic, but the AI still hallucinates and makes mistakes. 😅