Michael Hurlston
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Lumentum CEO: How Lasers Are Transforming AI Data Centers
Michael Hurlston, Tony Kim, Molly O'Shea
Under CEO Michael Hurlston, Lumentum has transformed from a diversified manufacturer into a pure-play data center optical leader, tripling revenue and driving its stock price up to 12-fold by capitalizing on the industry's rapid shift from copper to fiber connectivity. This transition, necessitated by the physical limitations of copper in high-speed environments, is straining the specialized Indium Phosphide supply chain due to long lead times for dedicated fabrication facilities. Facing tens of millions in new hyperscaler orders, the company is simultaneously expanding into space-based internet infrastructure and navigating geopolitical dynamics that favor U.S. domestic suppliers over Chinese competitors.
- RAISE Summit18 min
The Invisible Backbone of AI: Why Light Powers Intelligence | Lumentum | RAISE Summit 2026
Lumentum outlines a four-stage data center evolution from kilometer-scale interconnects to millimeter-level optical PCB integration, a shift driven by copper's inability to support 1.6 terabit speeds. This transition promises a 100 to 1,000-fold expansion in optical lanes, with scale-up rack integration expected by mid-2027 and commercial scale-in adoption projected by 2029. To meet the demand for hundreds of millions of lasers, the company has expanded Indium Phosphide wafer fabrication while strategic investments from NVIDIA secure supply for these critical semiconductor components.