University at Albany Becomes First Campus to Install IBM AI Prototype Hardware
The University at Albany (UAlbany) is making history by being the first higher education institution worldwide to introduce the prototype IBM Artificial Intelligence Unit (IBM AIU) chip designed for enhanced deep learning capabilities. This innovative hardware, developed by IBM at its Research AI Hardware Center, will be integrated into a computing cluster at the Center for Emerging Artificial Intelligence Systems (CEAIS) on the UAlbany campus. The installation process is set to commence in late February and is anticipated to conclude by spring.
The cutting-edge IBM AIU chip features a system-on-a-chip architecture specifically optimized for AI inferencing, streamlining the process of executing live data through a trained AI model to address various tasks. With an impressive setup of 32 AI processing cores and 23 billion transistors, this hardware is housed on a 75w PCIe card for easy installation in a server.
Research collaboration between UAlbany and IBM will focus on leveraging the IBM AIU and other advanced computing resources to advance studies in critical areas such as public health, weather forecasting, and semiconductor design. UAlbany will also gain access to an IBM advanced GPU cluster via the IBM Cloud for training AI foundation models.
The timing of this milestone at UAlbany aligns with New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s recent announcement of the Empire AI Consortium, a partnership aiming to propel New York to the forefront of AI research, job creation, and responsible technology adoption for societal progress. SUNY, which UAlbany is a part of, is a founding member of this consortium. Furthermore, UAlbany is in the process of constructing its supercomputer as part of the AI Plus Initiative dedicated to enhancing teaching and learning, with completion expected later this summer.
Mukesh Khare, General Manager of IBM Semiconductors and Vice President of Hybrid Cloud at IBM Research, expressed pride in collaborating with UAlbany to introduce the IBM AIU to the campus. Khare highlighted the pivotal role of a skilled workforce in driving the development of next-generation technologies, underscoring the enhanced educational and research avenues enabled by this partnership.
Vice President for Research and Economic Development at UAlbany, Thenkurussi Kesavadas, commended the collaboration with IBM, emphasizing the synergy between faculty and scientists in generative AI. With the groundbreaking IBM AIU system now in place, UAlbany researchers are poised to pioneer next-gen AI foundation models, positioning the university as a global AI application leader. UAlbany looks forward to contributing its expertise and resources to the Empire AI Consortium for mutual advancement.
The introduction of IBM AIU hardware at UAlbany signifies a significant leap in technology innovation, reinforcing Albany’s status as a hub for cutting-edge advancements in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and semiconductors. This strategic move underscores the commitment of both UAlbany and IBM to drive impactful research and educational initiatives in the evolving landscape of AI technology.
(Source: Campus Technology)
