Oxford's AI computer

The renowned University of Oxford is getting a new national deep learning supercomputer. The supplier is Atos, a leading international digital services company.

Scientists and companies in the UK can use it to develop and test deep learning applications and conduct feasibility studies as part of the Jade1 project (Joint Academic Data science Endeavour).

The supercomputer, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, is delivered via a Deep Learning as a Service (DLaaS) model. It is based on Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs) and Atos' Extreme Factory technology.

This will create a public deep learning cloud. The Alan Turing Institute, recently launched by the British government to advance research in artificial intelligence (AI) on a national level, will be one of the main users of the new service. This will enable the institute to offer both business and academia access to the latest cognitive analytics technologies.

Applications for Deep Learning range from automatic speech recognition to autonomous vehicles and medical imaging. For example, the technology can improve the accuracy of diagnoses in digital pathology.

Professor Mike Giles of the University of Oxford says:

"The University of Oxford has partnered with Atos to provide a national GPU supercomputer for the UK. This will develop and support applications for deep learning and AI in particular, in addition to supercomputing."

Arnaud Bertrand, Fellow, Head of Big Data and High-Performance Computing (HPC) at Atos, notes:

"We are proud of Jade, the first deep learning supercomputer on UK soil, and believe our technology and expertise will drive high-tech business innovation in the UK and elsewhere."