Frontier, the supercomputer developed by a team at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has broken through the exascale barrier and set a new speed milestone. The computer achieved an average speed of over 1.1 exaflops, or 1.1 quintillion calculations per second, making it the fastest computer in the world.
According to Feiyi Wang, the leader of research into artificial intelligence and analytics at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the exascale achievement signifies a major milestone and opens a new chapter in high-speed computing. Wang believes that this breakthrough eliminates the need to wait for the next generation of computing, as the capabilities are available today.
The impressive speed of Frontier is achieved through calculations performed at double precision, which relies on 64 bits of memory per calculation for maximum accuracy. However, certain applications, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, can operate with less precision. These algorithms mimic the human brain’s ability to recognize patterns over time and can function with as little as 32, 24, or even 16 bits of memory.
To measure the speed of Frontier’s mixed-precision calculations, which are used in AI and machine learning, Wang’s team had to devise a new test. The results showed that the supercomputer achieved a speed of 9.95 exaflops, almost eight times faster than the double-precision calculations that broke the exascale barrier.
The newfound capability of Frontier has significant implications for various fields, particularly in AI research. Wang explains that faster speeds allow for more data to be utilized in training AI models, resulting in more accurate results. In fact, Wang suggests that the rapid progress in computing speed brings us closer to the point where it’s possible to simulate the human brain.
The human brain, which consists of approximately 80 million neurons, operates at an energy level of around a dozen watts. In comparison, Frontier requires 30 megawatts of power. Wang envisions bridging the gap between human intelligence and machine intelligence, aiming for computing efficiency similar to the human brain. He believes that achieving such efficiency would be a groundbreaking development for humankind, with implications for computing and our daily lives.
The Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility, located at ORNL, is responsible for managing Frontier, which is supported by the Department of Energy’s Office of Science. The Office of Science is the largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is actively addressing pressing global challenges.
In summary, the team at Oak Ridge National Laboratory has developed the Frontier supercomputer, surpassing the exascale barrier and setting a new speed record. With its remarkable computational power and ability to perform AI and machine learning tasks at unprecedented speeds, Frontier marks a significant milestone in high-speed computing. The potential to bridge the gap between human and machine intelligence offers a promising future for computing technology and its impact on society.
