An ultra-fast switching technology that uses superconductor materials. Used to build the qubits in quantum computers, Josephson junctions operate in near-absolute zero (minus 273 Celsius; minus 460 Fahrenheit). See
quantum computing.
For Regular Computers
Josephson junctions are also promising for non-quantum regular AI servers because they are a super-fast transistor that switches in picoseconds (not nanoseconds) and uses 500 times less electricity (1 millivolt rather than 500). In addition, whereas top clock speed of regular computers is around 5 GHz, superconductor-based computers may range between 20 and 100 GHz. See
transistor.
All of these advantages dramatically change the size of datacenters because the cooling equipment is reduced by orders of magnitude, and the increased switching speed eliminates the need for as many CPUs and GPUs. Imagine an AI datacenter the size of a pickup truck instead of a hundred-acre plant. Possible? Stay tuned!
Superconducting Processing Units
For AI computing, chips are likely built as a compartmentalized superconducting processing unit (SPU). The processor's transistors reside in the sub-zero liquid helium temperature, but the memory is in a warmer compartment connected via a thermal bridge. Connecting the SPU to the external world is made through another thermal barrier.