US Department of Energy and AMD: $1 Billion Deal

Strategic Partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy and AMD

The U.S. Department of Energy has formed a $1 billion partnership with Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) to solve comprehensive scientific challenges. Within the scope of this agreement, two supercomputers will be built, covering a wide range of areas from nuclear energy to cancer treatment.

Role of Supercomputers

The U.S. aims to possess supercomputers necessary to conduct complex experiments. These two new machines will process large amounts of data to accelerate scientific discoveries. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that these systems will provide significant advancements in nuclear energy, fusion energy, and defense.

Fusion Energy Research

Scientists are trying to replicate the fusion reactions that power the sun by compressing light atoms in plasma gas under intense heat and pressure. Wright remarked, “We have made great progress, but plasmas are unstable; I believe that thanks to the calculations of these systems, we will be able to produce practical solutions within the next two or three years.”

First Computer: Lux

The first supercomputer in this project, named Lux, is planned to be built and operational within the next six months. Lux will be powered by AMD’s MI355X artificial intelligence chips, with the system being developed in collaboration with AMD, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

Second Computer: Discovery

The second and more advanced system, Discovery, is expected to be delivered in 2028 and will be a high-performance supercomputer. This computer will operate on AMD’s MI430 series artificial intelligence chips. AMD CEO Lisa Su stated that Lux, described as the fastest deployment of such a computer, will accelerate the U.S.'s efforts in artificial intelligence.

This project, in which both parties will share computational power, will provide significant contributions in various fields, from nuclear weapon management to cancer treatment.