AIST unveils revolutionary ABCI 3.0 AI supercomputer system
- The ABCI 1.0 system became operational in August 2018 with groundbreaking capabilities for AI research in Japan.
- AIST announced the advanced ABCI 3.0 supercomputer system in July 2024, which showcased significant improvements in processing power and efficiency.
- The evolution of AIST's ABCI systems reflects the increasing importance of localized AI resources and the integration of AI into real-world applications.
In Japan, the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) has been at the forefront of AI research through its innovative infrastructure. The organization developed the ABCI supercomputer to support AI experiments and computation needs, with the first version, ABCI 1.0, becoming operational in August 2018. This machine, costing approximately £5 billion, was a substantial leap for accelerated computing in Japan, boasting 2,176 CPU sockets and 4,352 GPU sockets, alongside various software tools to accommodate diverse workloads. ABCI 1.0 thus represented an early example of 'sovereign AI' by providing local research capabilities without dependence on larger cloud services from hyperscalers. As AI needs evolved, AIST moved forward with plans to enhance its computational capabilities. In July 2024, the organization unveiled the ABCI 3.0 system, which occurred in a fast-paced landscape defined by accelerating AI workloads. The new system is based on HPE’s Cray XD670 server platform and operates with advanced hardware that dramatically improves processing power, rated at 415 petaflops at FP64 precision. This substantial upgrade cost five times the ABCI 1.0 and 2.0 systems combined but delivered a notable 31.7 percent increase in efficiency for tasks critical to artificial intelligence. AIST’s ambition now extends beyond traditional computing; the agency aims to implement cyber-physical systems which integrate AI technology with robotics to analyze real-world data and simulate physical interactions. This evolution in AIST's mission highlights a broader trend wherein the capabilities of AI and its applications in real-world scenarios are advancing rapidly, hinting at significant implications for various industries and research fields in Japan.