MCU chips for optical modules emerge as a critical semiconductor segment as AI data center buildout drives 800G/1. 6T demand, with domestic players GigaDevice and Nations Technologies racing to capture market share. Key product. AI computing power has driven explosive growth in the optical module market, with 800G and 1. Coupled with the explosive growth in AI inference demand and the expansion of. A diagram of hardware components within an NVIDIA photonics co-packaged optics switch system showing optical sub-assemblies and switch ASIC. com The AI infrastructure boom has created its next supply chain crisis.