Government-backed US initiative allocates $20 million towards developing a powerful computer system, referred to as a supercomputer.
In a significant move, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced a $20-million investment in a new AI supercomputer, named Nexus, marking a substantial commitment to academic AI research. This investment comes amidst budgetary trends during the Trump administration that have often favoured cuts, with the NSF's budget reportedly proposed to be slashed by 57%.
The new supercomputer, Nexus, is being developed by the Georgia Institute of Technology. It is designed to perform more than 400 quadrillion operations per second, a significant leap forward in computational power. This investment aligns with broader Trump administration goals of U.S. "AI dominance" in the international arena, as evidenced by projects like the "Doudna" supercomputer at Lawrence Berkeley Lab.
However, the commitment to Nexus occurred in a complex environment for academic researchers relying on federal funding. The Trump administration has imposed budget cuts and policy shifts that adversely affected research grants and academic programs. For instance, efforts were made to reduce funding for diversity initiatives in science, halt certain grants aligned with these efforts, and cut or freeze other research collaborations and grants in scientific domains.
The funding of Nexus, therefore, represents a crucial resource for academic AI research in a time when many scientific programs experienced funding and operational challenges under the administration.
Meanwhile, a team of researchers from Texas, China, Singapore, and Sweden have developed a groundbreaking cooling technology called meta-emitters. These materials, with tiny, three-dimensional structures that reflect light to help keep surrounding areas cool, could potentially slash air conditioning costs in cities. When tested on a building's roof under direct sunlight for four hours, the roof measured between five and 20 degrees Celsius cooler than surrounding buildings.
The potential applications of meta-emitters extend beyond urban areas, including spacecrafts and other industries. Researchers envision incorporating the meta-emitters into clothes, cars, and even spacecrafts to help avoid overheating.
The development of the meta-emitters reinforces the potential of machine learning in designing innovative cooling materials. The initiative also underscores the critical role of university research in AI innovation. Georgia Tech will retain 10% of Nexus's capacity, while researchers from around the US can apply to use it.
In summary, the NSF's investment in Nexus provides vital computational resources that advance academic AI research capabilities despite a generally contracting federal research environment under the Trump administration. The development of meta-emitters, on the other hand, offers a promising solution to urban heat absorption and could potentially help decrease the cost of cooling in major cities experiencing heatwaves.
The development of the new AI supercomputer, Nexus, through a $20-million investment by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), marks a notable stride in environmental-science, particularly artificial-intelligence research, despite budgetary cuts during the Trump administration. Simultaneously, a breakthrough in the field of climate-change mitigation comes with the creation of meta-emitters, a cooling technology that could significantly reduce air conditioning costs in urban areas and extend to other industries, showcasing the crucial role of university research in technology innovation.
