AMD buys silicon photonics startup Enosemi to fuel its AI ambitions

Group 1 - AMD has acquired Enosemi, a startup focused on custom materials for silicon photonics product development, with deal terms undisclosed [1] - Silicon photonics technology uses light to transmit data, providing a faster and more efficient alternative to traditional electrical communication, which has garnered increasing interest from AMD and other chipmakers [1] - The acquisition aims to accelerate AMD's co-packaged optics innovation for AI systems, addressing the growing need for efficient data movement as AI models become larger and more complex [2] Group 2 - Enosemi, founded in 2023, specializes in photonic integrated circuits and has previously collaborated with AMD as an external development partner [2] - Prior to the acquisition, Enosemi raised $150,000 in venture capital funding and had 16 employees as of May [3] - This acquisition marks AMD's first following its significant$4.9 billion deal to buy ZT Systems, which AMD has since agreed to sell for $3 billion [4] Group 3 - AMD's AI chip revenue is projected to reach$5 billion in 2024, indicating a strong commitment to AI investments [4]