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Researchers create new computer combining optical and electronic technology

news.stanford.edu

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Re: Researchers create new computer combining optical and electronic technology

#4

Is there any sense in which this is solving NP-complete problems in polynomial time? They're clearly aiming at NP-complete problems, but it's not clear how efficient this machine is or how general it is.

They are developing system that could provide good heuristic solutions to NP-complete problem. That does not count as being able to _solve_ NP-complete problems. It won't find optimal solution in all cases, but it can be practically very useful.

Their approach falls into the same category as simulated annealing or shrinking bubbles: https://www.technologyreview.com/s/512821/shrinking-blob-com...