[SemiAnalysis: AI Networks Are Not a Binary Choice Between Copper Cables and Optical Communication, Both Will Benefit from GPU Cluster Expansion] BlockBeats News, June 20 – The independent semiconductor and AI research institution SemiAnalysis published an article stating that investors are increasingly inclined to view AI networks as a binary choice between copper cables and optical communication, continuously evaluating the rotation between these two themes. However, it believes that as GPU cluster scales expand, the importance of efficiently connecting these clusters will only continue to rise, driving the growth of demand for various network content. Copper cables and optical communication play different but complementary roles. When copper cables can meet requirements for distance, power consumption, cost, and reliability, they remain the preferred solution. However, when bandwidth and distance exceed the practical limits of copper cables, optical communication becomes necessary. NVIDIA's strategy has always been consistent: use copper cables when possible, and adopt optical communication only when necessary. This is not an either-or market. Growth in optical interconnects does not mean copper cables will disappear, and the resilience of copper cable demand does not mean optical communication will not scale up. As the scale and complexity of AI systems increase, the importance of data transmission between GPUs, switches, racks, and clusters rises, and both copper cable and optical communication connections should benefit. [Original Link]