Volantis Secures $88 Million to Develop AI Inference Platform Using Optical Interconnects

US semiconductor startup Volantis has raised $88 million in Series A funding to develop its 'A-1' AI inference platform. This platform aims to overcome the 'memory wall' in AI by using light to connect a single GPU to up to 220 memory chips. The technology utilizes custom micro-VCSELs to replace traditional electrical wiring, enabling high-speed data transfer for AI models with over 20 trillion parameters. Volantis plans to deliver its first integrated A-1 inference engine to customers in 2027.