Deeptech Mash is an informal fireside chat with the VC duo Dave & Seb from AlbionVC reflecting on all things emerging tech, university spinouts, innovation and X grabbing headlines. In the third episode of Deeptech Mash, Dave and Seb discuss the growing importance of photonics in computing, particularly in AI and data centres. The conversation revolves around NVIDIA's move towards optical networking and insights from Lawrence Luna's recent blog on photonics. The duo delve into the benefits and challenges of optical computing, focusing on two major issues: non-linear functions and memory limitations. They also explore the concept of optical interconnects and their potential to optimize data centre performance by reducing latency and increasing bandwidth per watt. The episode concludes with a call for more investment and innovation during the paradigm shift towards an AI-first world.