Switzerland Unveils 'Alps' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
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Swiss unveil supercomputer Alps, with eye on AI
Paid parking in Dubai: Residents face up to Dh4,000 extra yearly costs when new rates kick in Switzerland on Saturday inaugurated its new supercomputer called Alps -- one of the world's fastest -- which it hopes will help place the country first for trustworthy artificial intelligence solutions. The ETH Zurich university officially inaugurated Alps at the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS) in Lugano, southern Switzerland. "Alps is an expression of our vision of a future characterised by knowledge and progress," Economy, Education and Research Minister Guy Parmelin said in a speech at the CSCS site. In June, Alps was ranked as the world's sixth most powerful supercomputer. However, at the time it was not fully constructed and had only reached 60 percent of its potential. The supercomputer was developed to meet extreme data and computing scientific requirements, and allows artificial intelligence to be utilised more fully. It is the central part of an initiative "to position Switzerland as the world's leading hub for the development and implementation of transparent and trustworthy AI solutions", ETH Zurich said in a statement.
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Swiss unveil supercomputer Alps, with eye on AI
GENEVA (AFP) - Switzerland on Saturday inaugurated its new supercomputer called Alps - one of the world's fastest - which it hopes will help place the country first for trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. The ETH Zurich university officially inaugurated Alps at the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS) in Lugano, southern Switzerland. "Alps is an expression of our vision of a future characterised by knowledge and progress," Economy, Education and Research Minister Guy Parmelin said in a speech at the CSCS site. In June, Alps was ranked as the world's sixth most powerful supercomputer. However, at the time it was not fully constructed and had only reached 60 per cent of its potential. The supercomputer was developed to meet extreme data and computing scientific requirements, and allows artificial intelligence to be utilised more fully. It is the central part of an initiative "to position Switzerland as the world's leading hub for the development and implementation of transparent and trustworthy AI solutions", ETH Zurich said in a statement. AI Centre head Andreas Krause at ETH Zurich, said, "Alps makes it possible to train complex AI models for important applications, for example, in medicine and climate research." The MeteoSwiss national weather service is already using Alps to produce a higher resolution weather prediction model that better reflects Switzerland's complex topography of mountains and valleys. Parmelin said on X that Alps would be "opening new horizons, clearing the path for the future, placing Switzerland in pole position for scientific research". CSCS deputy director Michele De Lorenzi told Switzerland's Keystone-ATS news agency it would take 40,000 years for a commercial laptop to perform the operations that Alps can do in a day. The supercomputer is housed in 33 cabinets covering 116 square metres.
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Switzerland has introduced a new supercomputer named 'Alps' at its national computing center, aiming to boost artificial intelligence research and development. The powerful machine is expected to be fully operational by 2025.
Switzerland's Leap into Advanced Computing
Switzerland has taken a significant step forward in the realm of artificial intelligence and high-performance computing with the unveiling of its latest supercomputer, aptly named 'Alps'. The Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS) in Lugano is set to house this technological marvel, which promises to push the boundaries of AI research and scientific computing
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.The Power of Alps
The Alps supercomputer is not just another addition to the world of high-performance computing; it represents a quantum leap in processing capabilities. With its ability to perform a staggering 20 exaflops of AI calculations per second, Alps is poised to become one of the most powerful AI-focused supercomputers globally
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. This immense computational power is expected to accelerate breakthroughs in various fields, from climate research to materials science.Phased Implementation and Collaboration
The implementation of Alps is planned in phases, with the first phase already operational. The complete system is anticipated to be fully functional by 2025
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. This gradual rollout allows for fine-tuning and optimization of the system as it scales up to its full potential. The project is a collaborative effort, with tech giant Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) playing a crucial role in its development and implementation2
.AI-Centric Design
What sets Alps apart is its AI-centric design. Unlike traditional supercomputers that excel in general-purpose calculations, Alps is specifically engineered to handle the complex computations required for advanced AI and machine learning tasks. This specialization is expected to significantly enhance Switzerland's capabilities in AI research and development, potentially leading to groundbreaking innovations in the field
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.Environmental Considerations
In an era where energy consumption is a critical concern, the Alps supercomputer has been designed with sustainability in mind. The system will be cooled using lake water, a method that not only reduces the environmental impact but also enhances energy efficiency. This approach aligns with Switzerland's commitment to sustainable technology and responsible innovation
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Impact on Research and Innovation
The introduction of Alps is expected to have far-reaching implications for scientific research and technological innovation. Researchers across various disciplines will have access to unprecedented computational power, enabling them to tackle complex problems and simulate scenarios that were previously beyond reach. From advancing our understanding of climate change to developing new materials and drugs, Alps has the potential to accelerate scientific progress across multiple domains
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.Switzerland's Position in Global AI Race
With the unveiling of Alps, Switzerland has positioned itself as a serious contender in the global race for AI supremacy. This investment in cutting-edge technology demonstrates the country's commitment to remaining at the forefront of scientific and technological innovation. As other nations continue to invest heavily in AI and supercomputing capabilities, Alps represents Switzerland's bold statement of intent in this competitive landscape
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