UK's most powerful supercomputer to be built in Bristol
The new supercomputer will be dubbed Isambard-AI after Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Last updated 6th Jul 2024
West of England mayor Dan Norris says he's delighted as a new supercomputer is going to be built in Bristol.
It's been called a 'massive vote of confidence' to the region, which'll see one of Europe's most powerful supercomputers come to life at the National Composited Centre.
A state-of-the-art research facility focussing on artificial intelligence will be hosted by the University of Bristol.
It will be used to drive pioneering AI research and innovation across the UK, after it was confirmed by the Government this week that the uni will host the new AIRR - or AI Research Resource facility.
The AIRR will will serve as a national facility to help researchers maximise the potential of AI and support critical work into the potential and safe use of the technology.
"A massive vote of confidence"
Mayor Norris said: “This is a massive vote of confidence in the West of England, and our world-leading researchers and high-tech and science sectors. I’m sure it’s something Brunel himself would have been incredibly proud of.
“This cements the West’s position as one of the leading regions for cutting-edge research and innovation, and one that will be absolutely vital in helping this country harness the game-changing potential of these new technologies in a way that’s highly positive for everyone.
“I'm delighted that our city is becoming a key location for investment, cementing the West of England at the heart of the AI revolution, and the future of the UK economy."
The world-class AIRR cluster will vastly increase the UK’s compute capacity – which is said to be 'essential' to achieving the UK’s AI ambitions and securing its place as a world-leader in harnessing the rapidly developing technology.
The cluster, which will be made up of thousands of state-of-the-art graphics processing units, or GPUs, will be able to train the large language models that are at the forefront of AI research and development today.
The new AIRR will be dubbed Isambard-AI after Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the engineer whose groundbreaking creations – including Bristol’s famous Suspension Bridge – transformed Britain and revolutionised transport and construction.
"Backing the future of British innovation"
Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said: “We are backing the future of British innovation, investing in a world-leading AI Research Resource in Bristol that will catalyse scientific discovery and keep the UK at the forefront of AI development.
“The Isambard-AI cluster will be one of the most powerful supercomputers in Europe, and will help industry experts and researchers harness the game-changing potential of AI, including through the mission-critical work of our Frontier AI Taskforce.”
Plans for the AIRR were announced in March, backed by a £900 million investment to transform the UK’s computing capacity and establish a dedicated AI Research Resource.
Simon McIntosh-Smith, Professor of High Performance Computing at the University of Bristol and project lead, said: “We’re delighted to be chosen as the site to host the UK’s first ever Artificial Intelligence Research Resource.
“Isambard-AI will be one of the world’s first, large-scale, open AI supercomputers, and builds on our expertise designing and operating cutting-edge computational facilities, such as the incoming Isambard 3.”
"AI is expected to be as important as the steam age"
Professor Phil Taylor, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at the University of Bristol, said: “AI is expected to be as important as the steam age, with ramifications across almost every area of academia and industry. Bristol’s proud to be at the forefront of this revolution.
“To be selected to host a new national AI supercomputer speaks to the University’s cutting-edge research into AI and machine learning.
“We have unique expertise in rapidly building and deploying large-scale research computing infrastructure and we’re excited to play an integral part in establishing the UK as an international hub for AI.”
The UK will host the world’s first AI Safety Summit on 1st and 2nd November, bringing together leading countries, technology organisations, academic and civil society to discuss the risks created or exacerbated by the most powerful AI systems, and how to address and mitigate them.
The Summit will also look at how the benefits of safe AI can be unlocked to improve lives.