The industry’s most innovative people 2024 Ruti Ben Shlomi
Organisation: LightSolver Role: CEO and Co-Founder Based in: Israel Education: PhD in Quantum and Atomic/Molecular Physics from the Weizmann Institute of Science
What are you currently working on? What will the impact be? LightSolver has invented the first pure laser-based processing unit (LPU), a new computing paradigm that we believe will outpace and outperform quantum and supercomputers. It uses all-optical coupled lasers that require no electronics to compute, so it can be as small as a traditional desktop computer while offering low power requirements, room-temperature operation, and unrivalled scalability. The LPU is built from off-the-shelf
laser technology and components, and it leverages the ability of lasers to interfere and fulfil all the constraints of a given problem instantaneously. The way it works is by converting a mathematical representation of a business problem into a physical logic formulation, then mapping this special formulation into ‘obstacles’ within the optical path in which the lasers operate. Because of the wave nature of the lasers and the proprietary mapping, the laser beams converge into the desired solution. The solution is then measured and translated back into business language for the user. I believe the impact will be significant. This is a revolutionary step in the high- performance computing field. Just as the graphics processing unit (GPU) surpassed the central processing unit (CPU), our proprietary LPU can outperform today’s strongest classical supercomputers. It provides solutions to optimisation problems that were previously considered unsolvable once they exceed a certain number of variables.
What was the most surprising thing you found in the course of your latest research? When we initially founded the company, we were aware of the potential of utilising lasers for complex computations. However, even after an extensive period of research, it came as a pleasant surprise to observe just how rapidly and precisely lasers can carry out these tasks. Currently, challenging problems are typically tackled using heuristics, which involve scanning through all possible solutions until the optimal one is found. This laser technology emulates robust heuristic approaches, but comes at the problem from an entirely different perspective. Essentially, it performs a mathematical transformation that simplifies the problem-solving process, resulting in solutions that exceed our initial predictions.
What’s your biggest research priority in the coming year? My primary focus for the upcoming year will be to scale up the LPU. Our researchers are dedicating their time to increasing the number of variables this system can handle, enabling work in high-resolution regimes without compromising the quality of the solution. To be more concrete, as we scale up to thousands of variables using only lasers, we will face optical challenges such as crosstalk between laser beams, which can introduce noise into the system. This endeavour will predominantly entail optical and mechanical design work, and overcoming these obstacles will require customised high-quality and well-defined optical components. LightSolver is available to a few select businesses today as software-as-a-service (SaaS), but we are prioritising commercial availability by the end of 2023, and access to the LPU via cloud by mid-2024.
What are the biggest challenges or threats to the industry in the next 12 months? How can these be overcome? One of the significant challenges facing the industry in the coming months is the
“We were aware of the potential of utilising lasers for complex computations. However, it came as a pleasant surprise to observe just how rapidly and precisely lasers can carry out these tasks”
disruption in the electronic and electro- optic supply chain. This shortage has the potential to hinder production timelines and lead to delays in delivering products to customers. To overcome this challenge, companies can diversify their supply chain sources and establish strategic partnerships with reliable suppliers. Additionally, implementing effective
inventory management and demand forecasting systems can assist in optimising resource allocation. Moreover, exploring alternative technologies or components that are less reliant on the constrained electronic supply chain can offer a buffer against potential disruptions.
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