From Optical Pipes to Intelligent Platforms: The Evolution of Fiber-Optic Waveguides with Multifunctional Materials

Fiber-optic waveguides (FOWGs) are undergoing a transformative leap beyond their traditional role as passive light-transmission channels. This evolution is fueled by the integration of novel functional materials—such as stimuli-responsive hydrogels, aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogens, and natural biomaterials—coupled with advanced fabrication techniques. These innovations enable a “material-as-function” paradigm, embedding capabilities like sensing, actuation, and computation directly into the waveguide structure. This Perspective explores how these intelligent FOWG-based platforms are unlocking emerging applications in real-time environmental and biomedical sensing, minimally invasive photomedicine, and intuitive human-machine interfaces for robotics. Looking forward, we chart a developmental trajectory from materials to devices and systems, emphasizing the pivotal role of artificial intelligence in orchestrating this multifunctional integration. The convergence of material science, photonics, and AI is poised to transition FOWGs from simple optical pipes into adaptive, intelligent platforms that will underpin next-generation healthcare, environmental monitoring, and interactive technologies.