Microsoft's Glass Plates Now Store Real Data, Aiming to Last 10 Millennia

In a quiet but significant shift, Microsoft has begun using its experimental glass storage technology to hold actual corporate data. The move signals a new phase for Project Silica, an ambitious effort to solve a pressing problem: how to preserve information for generations when current digital media often fails within decades.

The system works by etching data into small, durable squares of quartz glass with incredibly fast lasers. Each plate, no larger than a coaster, can hold several terabytes. The data is read back using specialized microscopes and decoding software. Microsoft’s internal tests have shown the glass can withstand extreme heat, physical abrasion, and other environmental assaults without data loss, leading to an estimated lifespan of 10,000 years.

This durability presents a stark alternative to current archival standards. Magnetic tape and hard drives require controlled environments and must be replaced every few decades, a costly and perpetual cycle known as data migration. For the vast volumes of 'cold' data—records kept for legal or historical reasons but rarely accessed—a permanent, maintenance-free medium could upend storage economics.

While promising, the technology isn't ready to replace today's data centers. Writing and reading speeds are slow, and the hardware remains expensive and custom-built. Microsoft is developing robotic systems to handle and retrieve the glass plates at scale, a necessary step for broader use.

The project’s progress is driven by a looming data deluge. Industries from healthcare to finance are mandated to keep records for decades. Microsoft’s backing as a cloud giant gives Silica a practical pathway from lab to reality, offering a potential future where critical information outlasts not just hardware cycles, but civilizations themselves.