UK's fastest supercomputer fires up in Bristol
It can do as many calculations in one second as the world's entire population could in more than two years
The UK's most powerful supercomputer is officially online at the University of Bristol.
Isambard-AI is ranked as the second most sustainable supercomputer in the world and the 129th most high performing globally.
Specialising in artificial intelligence, the university says scientists will soon be able to use it for research that has not been possible in the UK until now, including by the UK's AI Safety Institute.
Professor Simon McIntosh-Smith, Director of the Bristol Centre for Supercomputing at the University of Bristol, said: “Assuming there are eight billion people on earth, and everyone performed one calculation per second, it would take 2.3 years for all eight billion people, working 24/7, 365-days a year, to do what Isambard-AI phase one could do in one second.
“That’s a pretty astounding performance, even though we can pack it into a relatively small space."
The supercomputer has been created thanks to a £225 million investment from the government last autumn.
Minister for AI Viscount Camrose said: “With the launch of the first stage of University of Bristol’s supercomputer Isambard-AI, we're witnessing a groundbreaking moment for UK science, innovation, and technology.
"This world-class equipment will revolutionise research possibilities here in the UK, with our world-first AI Safety Institute among the organisations who are set to benefit by harnessing one of the most powerful computer systems on the planet to drive forward their vital research.
“Not only does Isambard-AI rank among the world's fastest supercomputers, but it also sets the standard for eco-conscious computing, leading the charge in efficiency and sustainability.
"From AI safety to healthcare and climate research, its capabilities are unparalleled, marking the UK out as a global leader in AI and responsible innovation.”