Photon Matrix Lab has developed an AI-powered mosquito zapper that uses industrial-grade lasers to eliminate insects in mid-flight [1, 2].

This technology represents a shift toward chemical-free pest control, offering a potential alternative to traditional insecticides and electric grids that often fail to target mosquitoes specifically.

Founded by Steven Cheng, the start-up is based in Changzhou, Jiangsu province, in eastern China [1, 2]. The device combines computer-vision AI with lasers to identify and neutralize mosquitoes. This approach seeks to solve a common failure in pest control; according to one report, only 31 of 13,789 insects killed by a conventional bug zapper were mosquitoes [4].

"We have created the ultimate mosquito killer by combining computer-vision AI with industrial-grade lasers that can target and eliminate mosquitoes mid-flight," Cheng said [1].

The company recently closed a crowdfunding campaign that raised US$2.7 million [2]. Following this funding, the company is preparing for a commercial rollout. Mass production of the laser zapper is slated for August 2026 [1, 2].

"Our goal is to bring this technology to market by August so households can protect themselves without chemicals," Cheng said [2].

While the company promotes this laser-based system, other products marketed as bug zappers, such as those from GOOTOP, continue to rely on UV bulbs and high-voltage grids rather than AI vision [3]. The Photon Matrix Lab system aims to replace those older methods by focusing exclusively on the target species, reducing the accidental killing of beneficial insects.

“Photon Matrix Lab raised US$2.7 million for a chemical-free zapper.”

The introduction of AI-driven laser targeting shifts mosquito control from passive traps to active interception. If effective, this could reduce reliance on chemical repellents and pesticides, though the transition to household use will depend on the safety and precision of industrial-grade lasers in domestic environments.