In a groundbreaking announcement on Wednesday, the UK unveiled a substantial increase in funding, allocating £300 million ($363.57 million) to propel the development of two cutting-edge supercomputers dedicated to advancing the safety of artificial intelligence (AI) models. This financial boost, triple the initial commitment of £100 million, was disclosed during a pivotal AI safety summit, underscoring the government’s resolute commitment to fostering secure advancements in this rapidly evolving technology.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Emphasis on Frontier AI Models
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak emphasized the burgeoning power of Frontier AI models, highlighting the imperative for the UK’s scientific community to wield the requisite tools for ensuring the safety of the most advanced AI models. The augmented funding seeks to empower researchers and stimulate innovation in the domain of AI safety.
Outlined in the UK’s ambitious plans are two strategically positioned supercomputers, poised to be operational in Cambridge and Bristol. These state-of-the-art machines will endow researchers with access to computing resources exceeding the capacity of Britain’s current largest public AI computing tools by over thirty times.
Anticipated to be operational by the upcoming summer, these supercomputers will play a pivotal role in scrutinizing advanced AI models, with a particular focus on testing safety features. Beyond this critical role, they are poised to be instrumental in propelling breakthroughs in vital areas such as drug discovery and sustainable energy.
Isambard-AI in Bristol and Dawn in Cambridge: Technological Marvels
Bristol’s Isambard-AI will boast 5,000 advanced AI chips from Nvidia, seamlessly integrated into a supercomputer constructed by Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Simultaneously, the Cambridge-based machine, named Dawn, is a collaborative effort involving Dell, UK SME StackHPC, and is powered by a formidable arsenal of over 1,000 Intel chips.
This bold initiative underscores the UK’s unwavering commitment to maintaining a leading position in AI research and development. The strategic deployment of these supercomputers and collaboration with industry leaders reflects the nation’s dedication to propelling advancements in AI technology for the collective benefit of various sectors, including healthcare and sustainable energy.
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