The future of AI discovery is here
£225 million AI investment creates career opportunities for Bristol and the UK
In September 2023, the University of Bristol secured the hosting rights for Isambard-AI, set to be the nation’s most powerful supercomputer, backed by a £225m investment from the UK government.
The societal impacts of supercomputers like Isambard-AI are far greater than we could ever imagine. They have a significant processing power which makes them far superior to the general-purpose computers we are most familiar with. By processing substantial data sets at extraordinary speeds, supercomputers create complex simulations and calculations, leading to significant breakthroughs across a range of disciplines, from medicine to economics. Crucially, supercomputers are the backbone of artificial intelligence in its various forms and applications.
Isambard-AI marks a transformative moment for the university and our city, whilst supporting the UK’s ambitions in becoming a world leader in AI discovery. To achieve these aspirations, we’re on a mission to build a strong team of technical, academic, and professional services staff, not only to build and run our cutting-edge facilities but also to cultivate and inspire the next generation of AI talent through world-class teaching.
What our future looks like
Our existing capabilities in AI research and supercomputing have been further bolstered this year. Explore some of the significant milestones expected in 2024.
Isambard 3
Building on the success of the GW4 Isambard project, initiated in 2016 to be the world’s first Arm-based production supercomputer. Destined to be one of the first supercomputers in the world based on NVIDIA’s new Grace CPUs, Isambard 3 will drive impactful research in clean energy, optimising wind farms on land and water, and modelling future fusion reactors for sustainable green energy.
We are excited to announce that the Isambard 3 system has been fully installed and officially accepted this month. We anticipate launching this state-of-the-art supercomputing system in early 2025. Stay tuned for more updates as we approach the launch date.
Isambard-AI
Isambard-AI, initially set up in early 2024, is already operational and supporting user projects as of June. Located at the National Composites Centre in Bristol, this groundbreaking supercomputer serves as a vital national resource for researchers and industry alike. It is 10 times more powerful than the UK’s fastest existing supercomputer, enhancing scientific research across diverse fields such as robotics, big data, climate studies, and drug discovery. As the UK’s first Tier-0 supercomputer, Isambard-AI ranks among the top 10 most powerful supercomputers globally.
Currently, construction for the subsequent expansion is underway. We are on track for a complete scale-out expected during the summer of 2025, which will substantially increase our research capabilities.
AI training centres for PhD students
Set to commence in the 2024/2025 academic year, the University of Bristol will strengthen its AI research prominence having received funding for a new AI Centre for Doctoral Training. PhD students will acquire expertise in designing and managing the lifecycle of advanced AI applications, addressing scientific challenges with transparency and safety.
Be part of our future by exploring our roles
We have open vacancies for a variety of roles, contributing directly and indirectly to the groundbreaking fields of supercomputing and AI.
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.”
Professor Phil Taylor
– Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise