Communications of the ACM
Rise of the Supercomputers: South Korea Rushes to Boost AI
South Korea plans to build AI supercomputers.
Credit: Small Business IT
South Korea is a relative latecomer in the fields of AI and supercomputers. In April 2016, South Korea's Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) pledged to invest 100 billion won (US$93 million) in projects including building a 30-petaflop supercomputer by 2025.
The decision came after Google's computer AlphaGo beat South Korean Go player Lee Se Dol in a historic machine-versus-man win, in 2016, triggering calls for the country to boost its own AI development.
The Ministry of ICT has been working with two consortiums since May 2017 to develop and integrate the hardware and software needed for the supercomputer project. It involves about 300 experts from IT companies, research institutes, and universities, a spokesman says.
The digital push is backed by President Moon Jae In, who hopes that government support, combined with private efforts, can create thousands of new jobs and generate economic benefits worth some 40 trillion won (US$37.2 billion).
From The Straits Times
View Full Article
No entries found