tech
Britain just launched its top supercomputer. Here’s how it ranks globally
The UK has just launched its most advanced supercomputer — the 11th most powerful in the world.
TL;DR
- Isambard-AI, the UK's most advanced supercomputer, has been launched at the University of Bristol.
- It ranks as the 11th most powerful supercomputer globally, with a raw computing power of 216.5 petaflops.
- The supercomputer was built by Hewlett-Packard Enterprises using NVIDIA Grace Hopper superchips.
- Funded by £225 million from the government, Isambard-AI will be used for AI and scientific calculations, including climate change modeling and training large language models.
- The UK's science, innovation, and technology secretary stated that the machine will advance Britain's AI discovery capabilities.
- Initial applications include a prostate cancer detection system and research into sustainable industrial materials.
- The UK government has also committed £750 million to a future supercomputer in Edinburgh with exascale capabilities.