# Comment on "All-optical machine learning using diffractive deep neural networks"

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/1809.08360 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/1809.08360/

## Key facts

- Cited by 1 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 22 Sep 2018.

## Built on by (most cited first, 1 of 1)

- [Programmable metasurfaces for future photonic artificial intelligence](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.11659/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Lin et al. (Reports, 7 September 2018, p. 1004) reported a remarkable proposal that employs a passive, strictly linear optical setup to perform pattern classifications. But interpreting the multilayer diffractive setup as a deep neural network and advocating it as an all-optical deep learning framework are not well justified and represent a mischaracterization of the system by overlooking its defining characteristics of perfect linearity and strict passivity.