Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to usher in the fourth industrial revolution, highlighting the urgency and importance of China's independent development in information technology. Photonics-electronics convergence (PEC) offers critical hardware support for AI development and positions itself as a key technology for new quality productive forces. This study explores the significance, definition, and evolution path of PEC. It also presents the latest research advancements in related technologies and delves into the opportunities and challenges faced by PEC amidst the AI wave. As an inherent requirement for AI infrastructure development, PEC can be effectively promoted by AI. The study recommends leveraging AI to promote key technological breakthroughs in PEC research, implementing major innovation projects on PEC, fostering a vibrant innovation ecosystem, and nurturing globally competitive entities in this field. These measures aim to help China seize the opportunity of information hardware evolution amidst the AI wave and bolster the country's independent development capabilities in information technology.