Georgia Tech secures $20 million to construct groundbreaking AI supercomputer

In the United States, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded Georgia Tech $20 million to lead the construction of a new supercomputer, named Nexus. This supercomputer is expected to enhance artificial intelligence capabilities and support scientific breakthroughs across various fields. Nexus will feature a remarkable computing power of 400 petaflops, which translates to 400 quadrillion operations per second. Notably, this means that it could allow everyone globally to solve 50 million calculations simultaneously. The system is designed to have substantial storage capacity, boasting 330 terabytes of memory and 10 petabytes of flash storage. This extensive data handling capability will enable researchers to solve complex problems and manage massive datasets more efficiently than current technologies allow. The Nexus supercomputer aims to be both a standalone platform and a gateway, facilitating the effective utilization of other national resources, which is anticipated to significantly accelerate AI-driven scientific discovery. Georgia Tech, in partnership with the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, will begin construction of Nexus this year, with a projected completion date in spring 2026. This collaborative venture illustrates the importance of partnerships between leading institutions to promote advancements in science and technology. Additionally, the system is set to maintain 10% of its capacity reserved for Georgia Tech’s own campus research, while the NSF will manage broader access for U.S. researchers. The project has been met with enthusiasm from university officials, who recognize its potential to drive innovation and support critical research across various disciplines. Leaders in the academic community see Nexus as not just a supercomputer but a critical national resource that will bolster American leadership in artificial intelligence and reinforce economic competitiveness in technology-driven fields. It is regarded as a significant step forward for both Georgia Tech and the scientific research community, potentially paving the way for breakthroughs that have not yet been imagined.