FameEX Hot Topics | UK Commits £300 Million for Two AI Supercomputers; Harris Pushes for AI Safety

The United Kingdom has committed a substantial investment of £300 million ($363.57 million) in two advanced artificial intelligence (AI) supercomputers, collectively referred to as the "AI Research Resource." This announcement coincided with the conclusion of the inaugural global AI Safety Summit, which placed a strong emphasis on enhancing AI safety standards. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak underscored the critical nature of this investment, especially as frontier AI models continue to surge in power. The primary objective is to provide Britain's scientific community with the essential tools required to ensure the safety and reliability of the most advanced AI models.

These two supercomputers represent a significant leap in computing capability, offering U.K. researchers over 30 times the capacity of the country's current largest publicly available AI computing resources. The anticipated timeline for these cutting-edge systems to become operational is the summer of 2024. The leading supercomputer, Isambard-AI, is set to be constructed by Hewlett-Packard Enterprise and will be equipped with 5,000 advanced Nvidia AI chips. The second supercomputer, named "Dawn," will be developed in partnership with Dell and will be powered by 1,000 AI chips from Intel. Earlier reports indicated that the U.K. had allocated $130 million for AI chips in August, highlighting its commitment to AI advancement.

Isambard-AI, as per the U.K.'s announcement, is poised to perform over 200 petaflops, equivalent to a staggering 200 quadrillion calculations per second. This immense computing power will play a pivotal role in propelling AI research and applications to new heights. 

In addition to the U.K.'s domestic efforts, United States Vice President Kamala Harris actively participated in the summit's inaugural day, emphasizing the critical importance of close collaboration between the U.S. and the U.K. concerning the opportunities and challenges presented by frontier AI. Harris's speech highlighted the pressing need for collective action to address potential threats, such as cyberattacks of unprecedented scale and the development of AI-driven bioweapons.

Harris's remarks closely followed the recent release of an executive order by the Biden administration, which outlined stringent AI safety standards and proposed measures to be implemented in the United States. This executive order reaffirms the paramount significance of AI safety and security within the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, further underscoring the global commitment to advancing AI technology responsibly and securely.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this section is for informational purposes only, doesn't represent any investment advice or FameEX's official view.