The AI supercomputer Gefion will turbocharge Danish research
This article was published in Mandag Morgen on May 3, 2024 [in Danish]
It is a partnership between the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Denmark's Export and Investment Fund (EIFO), and the American chip giant Nvidia that will position Denmark with the AI supercomputer Gefion as one of the world's most advanced and powerful AI supercomputers.
About the Gefion AI Supercomputer
An AI supercomputer is specifically designed to tackle complex optimization problems within artificial intelligence (AI). It typically consists of a network of interconnected GPU processors, specialized hardware accelerators, and extensive memory resources optimized for handling large datasets and executing computationally intensive AI algorithms.
Supercomputers are used for various AI applications such as machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, and computer vision, enabling or significantly speeding up the ability of researchers and data scientists to solve problems of unprecedented size.
The establishment of Gefion was made possible by an investment of 600 million Danish kroner from the Novo Nordisk Foundation and 100 million from EIFO. The two investors have founded a company - Danish Centre for AI Innovation – which will own and operate the computer.
All revenues will be reinvested in the project.The computer will run on 100 percent renewable energy.
Gefion will be accessible to both researchers and businesses, creating new opportunities for advanced analysis and solving complex problems in areas such as life sciences, green transition, and quantum technology.
What makes Gefion unique is its availability for research. The supercomputers typically found in data centers around the world at tech giants like Google and Meta are primarily used for handling large volumes of data in real-time or for development tasks such as simulating complex systems and processes.
Although Gefion's computational power still falls short of competing with the tech giants', it represents a significant advancement for Denmark and is essential for ensuring that the country does not fall behind in AI research. The new computational capabilities better equip us to navigate a time when escalating global crises demand that we build resilience for the future.
Denmark can accelerate the research we are leaders of
Although there are several chip manufacturers competing in the rapidly growing and highly lucrative AI market, Nvidia holds a dominant position with a market share of about 80%. In fact, the demand for chips from Nvidia is so high that there is often a 2-3 year waiting period to have them delivered. Therefore, it is a major coup for Denmark that the Gefion computer is expected to be ready for use by the end of 2024. Through the partnership, Nvidia will not only deliver hardware within the next few months but will also contribute know-how, training, and development of new AI models. This opens entirely new possibilities for research and innovation collaborations across Denmark and California, where Nvidia is headquartered.
Life sciences and quantum technology will be the first major focus areas for the partnership - and Denmark has favorable conditions for both fields.
We are a highly digitized society with strong digital infrastructure and unique datasets. Notably, our health data, which has been systematically collected since the early 1970s, is internationally unique. The new computational power combined with artificial intelligence will provide new opportunities to use health data to improve the healthcare system and the health of Danes.
Denmark is also driven by a very robust ethical framework that ensures high integrity and accountability in the use of artificial intelligence. This means that Gefion will be designed to be used on sensitive datasets that require high data responsibility and security.
Denmark is among the world's leading countries in the life science ecosystem, and Gefion will be an important tool to cement that position. The development of new medications is increasingly aided by AI computing power, and in this regard, Gefion is a welcome development.
Denmark also has high ambitions and a very strong research environment in quantum technology, and Gefion's computing power will be an important aid in the efforts to create a functioning quantum computer. The Gefion partnership enhances collaboration between the Danish and Californian quantum research communities, and in the long term, it will help address challenges such as the shortage of quantum talent and the development of more Danish quantum startups. This will strengthen Denmark as a quantum nation.
The data driven mindset
Denmark is a high-tech nation – most of our gross domestic product is driven by high-tech goods and services.
Despite this, only a few of our companies – both large and small – have a strategy in the field of AI. We need to change this if we want to remain competitive in the future. This will require a completely new data-driven mindset, and here we have something to learn from the ecosystem of Silicon Valley.
In Silicon Valley, most companies consider themselves to be data companies, regardless of the industry they are in. They understand at all levels within the company that their most important asset is their data, and that AI is often key to understanding and exploring the future, as well as evolving as a company – often in entirely new directions.
This understanding is partly why a company like Google can venture into areas such as healthcare and life sciences. It's also why the world's largest personal transportation company, Uber, doesn't own a single car. Or how Netflix, the largest of the film and streaming services, actively uses data to ensure a larger viewership and customer satisfaction.
But many companies outside of Silicon Valley are still far from having a strong, data-driven culture, and data is rarely the universal basis for decision-making.
The investment in Gefion will greatly support Denmark's journey in developing a more data-driven mindset.
AI can strengthen our resilience in turbulent times
In recent years, across the globe, we have experienced geopolitical instability, escalating climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and rapid technological development. Businesses, societies, and even entire nations have been forced to explore how they can better prepare, respond, and emerge stronger from difficult challenges. It has become imperative to build resilience, and in many respects, sustainability, for the future.
Ambitious use of AI technology and structured, purposeful use of data can better equip Denmark to navigate future crises and compete on the global stage moving forward.
Only when we broadly in society and among Danish companies are inspired by responsible use of AI and embark on the data journey, will we be able to expand our strengths through data and the use of AI technology. With Gefion and AI supercomputer capabilities that can process vast amounts of data, we have taken a significant and important step in the right direction. From here, we in Denmark have a collective responsibility to continue taking the right steps on the journey towards becoming a data-driven nation.