Isambard-AI, powered by NVIDIA Grace Hopper Superchips, delivers 21 exaflops of AI performance, making it the fastest system in the U.K. and among the most energy-efficient globally. The U.K. officially joins the premier league of global AI infrastructure with Isambard-AI, the most powerful AI supercomputer ever built in the U.K. It boasts 21 exaflops of AI performance, 5,448 NVIDIA GH200 Grace Hopper Superchips, and ranks 11th worldwide on the TOP500 list.

Isambard-AI gives U.K. researchers and businesses a significant leap in computing power, accelerating breakthroughs in AI-driven drug discovery, advanced climate modeling, materials science, and large language models. Backed by £225 million in government investment and collaborations with NVIDIA, HPE, and the University of Bristol, Isambard-AI aims to lead in AI by leading in compute.

Named after Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Isambard-AI brings a new era of ambition to AI research in the U.K. with early flagship projects like Nightingale AI, BritLLM, UCL Cancer Screening AI, EIMCRYSTAL, and EgoAI. The supercomputer was built in record time, going from conception to deployment in under two years, including constructing a modular data center in just 48 hours.

Isambard-AI is not only fast but also green, ranking fourth globally on the Green500 list. Powered by NVIDIA GH200 Superchips, it features direct liquid-cooling architecture from HPE and entirely zero-carbon electricity. With a power usage effectiveness below 1.1, Isambard-AI is among the most energy-efficient supercomputers ever built.

Access to Isambard-AI will be managed by the U.K. Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology, emphasizing alignment with national priorities and supporting research and commercial innovation. The U.K. now has an AI infrastructure asset that matches its ambitions for deep, lasting national impact.

The launch of Isambard-AI is part of a broader push to put Britain at the forefront of AI, from supercomputers to skills programs. Isambard-AI represents a significant leap for the U.K. in AI infrastructure, showcasing the country’s commitment to lead in AI on its own terms.

Read more at NVIDIA: Isambard-AI, the UK’s Most Powerful AI Supercomputer, Goes Live