For nearly 90 years, scientists have unraveled intramolecular motion and chemical bonds, sparked by E. Synge's 1928 breakthrough in optical resolution. Near-field optical microscopy, surpassing classical limits, enables Angstrom-level spatial resolution. With this special issue ‘Nanospectroscopy, nanooptics and nanofabrication’, we wish to highlight the rapid experimental and theoretical advances of this burgeoning interdisciplinary field, as well as to provide an account of its peculiar challenges and future prospects.

Artificial intelligence is developing dramatically in many fields including photonics and advanced manufacturing. Modern sensing, communication, network, automation and other latest technologies are converged in such applications facilitated by the artificial intelligence. Through the intelligent identification, human-computer/human-machine interaction technology, decision-making and execution technology, as well as cost-effective algorithms, people achieve the intelligence of the design, implementation and manufacturing processes in photonic-related systems. In the last 10 years, the theory of artificial intelligence has been vigorously developed and applied. Novel high-performance sensors have been developed rapidly. The traditional automatic control theory is moving towards the direction of intelligence and human-machine integration. The precision of mechanical design and manufacture is increasing. The effectiveness of novel functionalities is explored. These advances have made the theory of photonics related advanced manufacturing evolving and verified in practice, which has formed a huge impact in the fields of advanced instruments and equipment, smart factories, future optical networking and so on.

This special issue aims to discuss the cutting-edge advances in the field of artificial intelligence in photonics and advanced manufacturing, including the innovative research results and potential applications of artificial intelligence theories and methods, design and application of novel photonic devices/sensors, innovative automatic control technology, human-computer interaction and fusion, smart factories, and the advanced functionalities in photonic systems/networks. We hope to provide an overview as well as insightful perspectives of the field by collecting contributions from leading experts and major industry players to promote scientific breakthroughs and impactful applications in photonics and advanced manufacturing.

Integrated photonics consists of integrating multiple photonic devices/functions on a single Photonic Integrated Chip (PIC), while optoelectronics convergence is building the bridge between photonics and microelectronics.

This special issue aims to explore the fundamental properties of emerging low dimensional optoelectronic materials and their applications in optoelectronic devices.