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Schedule 4 – Isambard AI Project Description

Grant Title: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE RESEARCH RESOURCE (AIRR) ISAMBARD AI RESEARCH RESOURCE

Starts: October 2023

Ends: December 2029 (initial Grant Period excluding potential 1 year extension)

Duration: 75 months

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

This grant funding is for the high-level programme requirement to enable the experimental development of the Isambard AI Research Resource and its operation for a period of 5 years following final acceptance of the AIRR (with an option to extend for a further 1 year period) with a view to enhancing compute provision for AI research capability.

The procurement process and our grant funding discussions have been conducted with the aim of an AI processing capacity being in place by summer 2024 and this remains our shared ambition. Nevertheless, it is recognised that there are a number of factors outside of the University of Bristol’s control which may slow the completion of the installation. Given the status of the development of the AI supercomputer as experimental development, a phased approach will be undertaken as follows:

  1. Phase 1: This phase involves the expansion of the Isambard-3 solution to accommodate an AI test bed environment, which is expected to be delivered and operational by 31st March 2024.

  2. Phase 2: Development of Isambard AI - This phase involves the design and implementation of the self-contained AI solution, which is expected to be delivered and operational by 30th September 2024.

It is anticipated that the research phase of the project will commence in December 2024 following final acceptance of the AIRR, and shall continue for a period of 5 years with the option to extend by 1 further year. The funding will be applied to meet all agreed direct and indirect costs to develop the research capability including (but not limited to) costs related to the procurement of Isambard-AI hardware (including an AI accelerator expansion of Isambard-3) and software, installation, and costs to prepare the site to host the facility and associated operating expenses, including utilities, security and manpower as set out in this Grant Offer Letter.

The grant funding will be applied to support the development of AI research capability by:

  • Delivering an AI component of Isambard-3 through the installation of 168 AI accelerators (Phase 1);
  • Developing a state-of-the-art AI supercomputer (encompassing approximately 5,300 cutting edge AI accelerators) in order to increase the compute capacity to be used for AI research (Phase 2); and
  • Providing ongoing support for the AI supercomputer to enable research that informs frontier risk mitigation, particularly AI safety, and research by higher education institutions and not for profit research organisations, the wider academic community, and public bodies (including for the purposes of this letter the AI Frontier Taskforce).

The funding has been provided by His Majesty's Treasury in accordance with the terms of an agreement between the Sponsor Body and UKRI of 23rd October 2023, which confirms that in this letter "research" means R&D (research and experimental development) as defined in the Frascati Manual published (and as it may be revised from time to time) by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.