US-based AMD has committed up to £2 billion to accelerate artificial intelligence innovation and research for UK audiences.

US-based semiconductor multinational AMD has announced intentions to invest up to £2 billion over the next five years here in the UK, to “accelerate AI innovation and research”. 

Teaming up with Dell Technologies to support the University of Cambridge’s Zenith AI supercomputer and Sunrise fusion AI system, the company also vows to expand access to the compute resources needed for the UK’s “long-term economic growth and scientific leadership”.

In a strategic partnership with Imperial College London and Oriole Networks, AMD-led software will support projects across areas, notably in healthcare but also across scientific research and public-sector innovation.

The initiative is the latest in a spate of nationwide AI developments that include the AI Opportunities Action Plan and AI Hardware Strategy, alongside the government’s goal to strengthen the country’s AI infrastructure, research ecosystem and long-term economic competitiveness.

Government support

This announcement has gone down well in the Treasury, where Rachel Reeves shared high hopes in her role as chancellor. 

“[This] will drive more cutting-edge research here in the UK, open up opportunities for people to build the skills they need for the jobs of the future and speed up breakthroughs that can improve people’s lives and grow our economy,” she said.

AMD is also collaborating with Imperial College London to advance computational science and support research that relies on large-scale computing resources. This will span healthcare innovation and climate modelling.

At the University of Cambridge, Zenith is a government-funded AI-for-science platform, while Sunrise is a government-funded AI supercomputer. Both support AI-for-science applications, including healthcare research.

Some in the medical sector remain to be convinced that AI can transform their workloads, but as Healthcare Today has recently delved into, others are already more encouraged.