Just before the summer break 2024, we had held a remarkable event, "Akhetonics Goes Munich," bringing together all our experts in the various fields of software, photonics and quantum from both Berlin and Munich. This gathering was not only an opportunity for team building but also a crucial moment for our new colleagues, interns and working students to immerse themselves in our company's culture and future plans.
Our team in Berlin and Munich currently has four interns and our Quantum Systems Engineer Benjamin Chicos who has taken on a leadership role in Berlin, affectionately dubbed our "Head of Interns." His dedication extends beyond just coordinating the team; he even takes care of practical needs like purchasing furniture and ensuring that everyone has the necessary equipment, such as laptops.
During the event, our team focused on several key projects. Katherine Chen and Max Aigner are developing a C++ Doom demonstration project using our proprietary processor architecture. This project is part of a larger goal to showcase the versatility of our hardware, including its ability to run complex software like Doom using the Intel One API on our XPU—a hybrid processor designed to work seamlessly with standard x86 CPUs. Our XPU, a Photonic RISC processor with Infiniband and RJ45 interfaces, will be installed in data centers, operating as an OpenCL device under Linux. This setup allows us to abstract away the photonic aspects of our CPU, making it fully compatible with both the old electric world and future quantum computing developments.
Felix and his department have been making significant strides in optimizing the register allocation for our XPU's compiler, utilizing graph theory techniques like graph coloring. Their work is crucial in ensuring efficient data management within our system's registers.
The event wasn't all work; we also took time to unwind with a team-building session at LaserTag. This activity helped us bond as a group and return to work with renewed energy.
The following day, we discussed about our company's financial health. Michael, our finance expert, explained the intricacies of our recent successful funding round, the concept of dilution, and how funds and investors operate. We also explored various EU projects, primarily involving graphene, and a long-term project aimed at developing a robust processor.
Michael also provided an overview of our automated photonic-CPU test setup, showcasing our laboratory and workspaces, which are essential for our ongoing research and development.
Akhetonics GmbH is pioneering the world's first all-optical XPU, a cross-domain processor designed for ultra-low power, high-performance computing, and AI. Our mission is to make the world a smarter place by creating the first terahertz CPU, a feat only possible with optical computing. Initially focusing on data centers and specialized applications, we leverage a unique combination of optical digital, analog, and quantum computing capabilities, all developed within a purely European supply chain for unmatched security.
Our XPU features a special-purpose optical accelerator for digital, analog, or quantum operations, dynamically combinable to act as an orchestra with the XPU as the conductor. Our all-optical architecture operates at speeds that far exceed electronic systems, eliminating the need for frequent electronic-optical conversions and enabling ultra-fast data processing.
We are currently scouting new office spaces to accommodate our growing team, potentially expanding to around 50 people. This expansion will include a larger laboratory for our automated test station, essential for testing chips before packaging. We are also looking to hire more team members, particularly in software development (C++, C#, Python) and physicists maybe even with a PIC background (photonic integrated circuits).
Max Aigner shared a personal anecdote, expressing his belief in the transformative potential of our technology. He emphasized that by leveraging the unprecedented computational power of our all-optical terahertz CPU, we can tackle some of humanity's most pressing challenges, such as social inequalities and climate change. Max's experience in various startups has convinced him that our team at Akhetonics has the potential to make a significant impact on the world.
In conclusion, "Akhetonics Goes Munich" was a significant milestone for our company, bringing our team closer and setting the stage for future innovations. We are excited about the journey ahead and the possibilities our technology can unlock.
