The SC #123
Issue #123 of The SC. Weekly supercomputing news. Is quantum computing knocking on your supercomputer’s front door? AI infrastructure is both expanding and getting more expensive to finance and the EU joins the fray.
AI infrastructure made lots of noise, mostly I guess because its earnings season, IBM and partners claimed quantum advantage and the EU wants to join the AI party.
Let’s talk quantum advantage first though because I’m sure you had enough other outlets pushing AI news down your throat last week. IBM and partners, announced quantum advantage for several use cases with IBM’s 156 qubit Heron. The claims here are fairly impressive with validation of the quantum compute using other trapped ion systems from Quantinuum and the classical compute comparison done using Fugaku which held the number one spot on the Top500 in 2020 and is still ranked at number 9.
HPC Wire seem to concur that we’re close to utility, if not there already, for quantum computing too.
I’d love to provide some kind of independent commentary on the above, but this is really hard to do. Unlike, say AI, where it’s pretty easy to validate its capabilities for yourself. the same cannot be said for quantum computing. Even if you had access to a real quantum computer. The amount of work, and level of both domain knowledge and math required simply places it out of reach for most people. I would like to answer this question though for a use case that we work with extensively. Financial risk analytics. So, we’re working on that, stay tuned for more.
Its earnings season on Wall Street and of course because the biggest companies work in AI infrastructure which is the most super of supercomputing you’re probably impacted if you have to purchase any kind of compute let alone a new supercomputer.
My condolences if you’re in that position.
The news is not easy to decipher. On the one hand, we have worsening credit spreads on corporate bonds for AI infrastructure companies and Oracle being downgraded to just above junk bond status. On the other hand, we have stellar earnings and increased investment into AI infrastructure from the hyperscalers.
In the midst of this, the EU has decided to enter the fray with EuroHPC putting out RFPs for AI gigafactories, or in normal parlance, new supercomputers.
Have a good week all.
All the News in Depth
Cloud and vendor releases for Supercomputing & HPC (and AI too if you change the filters)
IBM and partners claim quantum advantage
HPC Wire also seems to think real use of quantum may be closer than we think
CoreWeave financing looks increasingly shaky
Oracle downgraded to BBB rating
More circular financing? Nvidia backs OpenAI’s to the tune of $250B
And the EU wans in on the action too
HMx Labs Updates
Is finding developers who understand memory management getting too hard? I’m not just asking as a theoretical conversation starter but because we need people who can and there are still lots of systems in financial services that need these skills
Off Topic
I like Alberta, she’s funny. Makes a valid point here too, that I’ve also made in the past is a much less funny way
The whole AI is a scary cyber hacker story from the last week or so is getting out of hand, here’s a good sane take on it all from Cal Newport. Search for it on your podcast app of choice or put up with the ads on YouTube. “The Real Story Behind OpenAI’s Rogue Model”
Codeberg approves the change to ban AI Slop code. I’m wondering if we need to move our private repos off GitHub at least and wondering about Codeberg or internally hosting Forgejo.
Lastly, the family and I are hoping to get away to the alps again for a spot of downhill biking so I’ve been watching the incredibly talented Danny MacAskill with them.
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