A committee from Japan’s science ministry has set ambitious goals for the country’s next supercomputer, aiming for up to 10 times the calculation speed of the current Fugaku model, along with enhanced AI capabilities.
Fugaku, renowned as one of the world’s most powerful computers, is capable of more than 440 quadrillion calculations per second and has been instrumental in various applications, from predicting heavy rain clouds to simulating the spread of airborne droplets carrying the coronavirus.
The committee envisions the successor to Fugaku as having a calculation ability five to 10 times greater, with a focus on achieving top-tier AI performance for generative AI systems. They also recommend incorporating graphics processing units (GPUs) to enhance learning processes for AI and enable predictions and other functions through a combination of AI and simulations.
Riken research institute, the main developer behind Fugaku, has been tasked with leading the development of the new supercomputer, with hopes that it will be operational by 2030 at the latest.
As global competition in supercomputing intensifies, Japan is determined to stay ahead of the curve. The United States has already surpassed Fugaku’s speed with its own “exascale” computers, capable of at least 1 quintillion calculations per second. The EU and China are also making strides in developing exascale systems, highlighting the race for technological supremacy in the field.