Tech Desk 
Jan 20, 2025
The £225 million Isambard-AI supercomputer, based in Bristol, is set to become the United Kingdom (UK) robust supercomputer when fully functional this summer.
It efficiently utilises cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) to develop advanced vaccines and novel medicines, significantly contributing to the improvement of medical research and saving lives.
Prime Minister of the UK Sir Keir Starmer revealed plans to “unleash AI” countrywide, underscoring its potential to boost Gross domestic product ( GDP). Professor Simon McIntosh-Smith of Bristol University said that Isambard-AI makes the UK "genuinely competitive with the world."
Prof. McIntosh-Smith informed BBC Radio Bristol, "We already have people using it to do things like look for new drugs and vaccines to treat people." Researchers are working on vaccines for Alzheimer’s and dementia and treatments for severe diseases such as heart disease, emphysema, and cancer.
While explaining the advanced technology, Prof. McIntosh-Smith said: "It can do a lot of the grunt work... because they have so much thinking power and computing power."
"AI models can now simulate how drugs work inside the body, at the molecular level right down to atoms and molecules," he added.
Earlier, drug development depended on educated guesses, but Isambard-AI efficiently utilises AI to test potential drugs virtually, escalating early-stage testing. Prof. McIntosh-Smith stated: "We could be saving millions of lives."
The state-of-the-art Isambard-AI is set to rank among the world’s top ten fastest supercomputers. While energy-intensive, its waste heat will warm the businesses and local houses.
The prime minister outlined the potential of advanced AI to reshape the future of public services, such as pothole assessments and enhanced disease diagnoses. Prof. McIntosh-Smith summarised: "The payback is potentially world-changing."
