Wei Shi is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Université Laval and the Canada Research Chair in Silicon Photonics.
Artificial intelligence is reshaping modern society, but its rapid growth presents a major challenge: the escalating energy cost of moving data within and between computing systems. As digital infrastructure continues to expand, ensuring its long-term sustainability has become a critical societal concern.
Shi’s research project is guided by a long-term vision: to rethink how information is moved in digital systems so that future technologies can be both powerful and sustainable. By using light rather than electricity to transmit data, Shi’s research team seeks to overcome fundamental energy and scalability limits that constrain today’s computing platforms.
Through this work, the team aims to strengthen Canada’s capacity in critical technologies that underpin artificial intelligence, communications, and emerging quantum systems. The research project seeks to support a digital future that is more energy-efficient, resilient, and aligned with societal and environmental priorities, while contributing to Canada’s continued leadership in advanced photonic technologies.
Shi is deeply engaged in research leadership and ecosystem building, and is committed to training the next generation of innovators. His work exemplifies the integration of scientific excellence, industrial relevance, and societal impact that underpins Canada’s leadership in photonics.