On January 26, the UK government unveiled a £36 million (equivalent to roughly RMB 342 million) investment to enhance the DAWN supercomputer at the University of Cambridge, a move that will multiply its processing capabilities sixfold. This financial injection is designed to furnish UK researchers and startups with robust high-performance computing support. The supercomputer's upgrade is slated to commence fully in the spring of 2026, incorporating cutting-edge hardware to facilitate large-scale AI advancements. The DAWN supercomputer will be outfitted with Instinct MI355X chips, leveraging AMD's CDNA4 architecture, with Dell overseeing the integration process. The UK government intends to offer eligible users complimentary access to the supercomputer via the AIRR program. This investment forms a component of the UK's AI Opportunity Action Plan, which earmarks over £2 billion to foster the growth of the UK's AI industry.
