Embodiments herein describe an intelligent optical cable that includes an optical assembly disposed between two pluggable connectors. In one embodiment, the optical assembly in the intelligent optical cable are coupled to the pluggable connectors via respective ribbons, where first ends of the ribbons are connected to the optical assembly while second ends of the ribbons are connected to respective pluggable connectors. In one embodiment, the optical assembly includes a photonic chip which performs an optical function on the optical signals propagating in the optical cable.