U.K. invests $273 million in AI supercomputer as it seeks to compete with U.S., China

The U.K. government said Wednesday that it will invest £225 million, or $273 million, into an AI supercomputer, highlighting the country’s ambition to lead in the technology as it races to catch up to the U.S. and China.

The government said Isambard-AI will be the most advanced computer in Britain and once complete, it will be “10 times faster than the U.K.’s current quickest machine.” The investment comes as the U.K. hosts its landmark AI safety summit in Bletchley Park, the home of the World War II codebreakers.The U.K. government said Wednesday that it will invest £225 million, or $273 million, into an artificial intelligence supercomputer, highlighting the country’s ambition to lead in the technology as it races to catch up to the U.S. and China.

The University of Bristol will build the supercomputer, called Isambard-AI after the 19th century British engineer Isambard Brunel. The announcement coincided with the first day of the U.K.’sThe U.K. government said Isambard-AI will be the most advanced computer in Britain and once complete, it will be “10 times faster than the U.K.’s current quickest machine.” The computer will pack 5,448 GH200 Grace Hopper Superchips, powerful AI chips made by U.S. headtopics.com

The U.K. government hopes the two combined supercomputers will achieve breakthroughs in fusion energy, health care and climate modeling. The machines will be up and running starting in summer 2024, the government said, and will help researchers analyze advanced AI models to test safety features and drive breakthroughs in drug discovery and clean energy.to invest in the semiconductor industry in an attempt to secure the country’s chip supplies and reduce its dependence on East Asia for the most commercially important microchips.

UK invests $273 million in AI supercomputer as it seeks to compete with U.S., ChinaThe investment comes as the U.K. hosts its landmark AI safety summit, which is being held in Bletchley Park, the home of the World War Two codebreakers. Read more ⮕

UK invests $273 million in AI supercomputer as it seeks to compete with U.S., ChinaThe investment comes as the U.K. hosts its landmark AI safety summit, which is being held in Bletchley Park, the home of the World War Two codebreakers. Read more ⮕

The UK is spending $273 million to build its fastest ever AI supercomputerThe UK government announced a $273 million investment to build Isambard-AI, its most powerful supercomputer yet. It’s expected to begin operations in 2024 and will be hosted by the University of Bristol. Read more ⮕

UK’s AI summit taking place at Bletchley Park, the wartime home of codebreakingThe AI Safety Summit is bringing politicians, computer scientists and tech executives to Bletchley Park in the United Kingdom, a site that’s synonymous with codebreaking and the birth of computing during World War II Read more ⮕

Britain publishes ‘Bletchley Declaration’ on AI safetyBritain on Wednesday published a ‘Bletchley Declaration’, agreed with countries including the United States and China, aimed at boosting global efforts to cooperate on artificial intelligence (AI) safety. Read more ⮕

Shanghai, China job with East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST)About School of Pharmacy of ECUST Established in September 2004, School of Pharmacy of ECUST is comprised of complementary research programs focused on Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Engineering and Plant Protection. Read more ⮕