The Technology Year in Stories: November 2024
In the race for computing supremacy, the ability to process calculations at exascale – performing a billion billion operations per second – has become a benchmark of technological advancement. This capability, once theoretical, has emerged as a practical reality through systems that are reshaping scientific research, national security and AI development.
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), the semiconductor manufacturer that has transformed from a distant rival to Intel into a computing powerhouse, has marked a milestone in this field with its processors powering El Capitan, now the fastest supercomputer in the world according to the Top500 list. This achievement comes amid intensifying competition in high-performance computing, where nations and corporations vie for technological leadership in applications ranging from climate modelling to nuclear security.
The system, housed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in California, achieved a High-Performance Linpack score of 1.742 exaflops – equivalent to performing 1.742 quintillion calculations per second. The machine uses AMD’s Instinct MI300A accelerated processing units (APUs), which combine central and graphics processing capabilities in a single component.
This installation represents the sixth consecutive time AMD has powered the world’s fastest supercomputer, a position previously dominated by competing chip manufacturers. The achievement marks a significant shift in the computing landscape, where specialised processors designed for AI and scientific computing have become as crucial as traditional central processing units.
Forrest Norrod, Executive Vice President and General Manager at AMD, says: “We are thrilled to see El Capitan become the second AMD powered supercomputer to break the exaflop barrier and become the fastest supercomputer in the world. This groundbreaking machine is a testament to the dedicated work between AMD, LLNL and HPE.”
Nvidia & Deloitte: AI's Dual Role in Climate Action at COP29
As the global community gathered for COP29, AI has emerged as both a promising solution and a potential challenge in the fight against climate change.
Whilst AI’s potential to help climate change is being realised, so are concerns about its environmental footprint.
Recent studies indicate a dramatic surge in AI-related energy consumption, with data centre power demand projected to reach 2,000 terawatt-hours by 2050, while simultaneously major tech companies report significant increases in their greenhouse gas emissions.
Yet, AI's transformative potential in advancing sustainability initiatives cannot be ignored.
From optimising energy grids to enhancing disaster prevention systems and revolutionising digital agriculture, AI technologies are proving instrumental in driving environmental innovation.
This complex dynamic sets the stage for critical discussions at COP29, where world leaders and industry experts must navigate the delicate balance between harnessing AI's benefits for climate action while mitigating its environmental impact.
A recent report by Deloitte, titled "Powering Artificial Intelligence: A study of AI's environmental footprint," highlights the dual nature of AI in the context of climate change.
Josh Parker, Senior Director of Legal – Corporate Sustainability at Nvidia emphasises that existing data centre infrastructure is becoming dated and less efficient: “The data shows that it’s 10x more efficient to run workloads on accelerated computing platforms than on traditional data centre platforms.
“There’s a huge opportunity for us to reduce the energy consumed in existing infrastructures.”
Three More January Highlights
Google’s Investment in Global AI Education Initiatives
Amazon's Olympus AI-powered Video Processing: Explained
US Invests Billions in Intel for Domestic Chip Production
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