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The NIWC Pacific artificial intelligence program is set to drive next-generation microchip development, as announced during a summit on Feb. 18 at the University of Arizona. A coalition of leaders from academia, venture capital, and the semiconductor industry has identified the NIWC Pacific AI initiative as a key use case for creating hybrid chips that merge electronics with photonics.

These processors aim to reduce power consumption and heat while boosting processing power for military applications. The program is seen as a testbed for developing a future AI commander-assist system, addressing challenges in AI adoption on military platforms. The coalition's long-term goal is to mature this technology for widespread military and civilian use, with plans for semi-annual summits to monitor progress.