The Optical FPGA Revolution: How Programmable Photonic Chips Are Redefining Computing

The transition from electronic to photonic computing is no longer confined to research laboratories. Programmable photonic chips—often described as optical FPGAs—are emerging at the intersection of advanced materials, reconfigurable architectures, and industrial-scale semiconductor manufacturing. What distinguishes this moment from earlier photonics cycles is not just technological maturity, but the alignment of enabling technologies, market demand,…