Japan has announced plans to build the world’s first-ever ‘zeta-class’ supercomputer, a machine that will be 1,000 times faster than today’s most powerful supercomputers. This ambitious project, set to begin construction next year, is a major step towards advancing artificial intelligence (AI) research and development in Japan.
The supercomputer, tentatively named ‘Fugaku Next,’ is expected to reach speeds on a zetaFLOPS scale, a level of computational power never achieved before. One zetaFLOPS translates to one sextillion (1 followed by 21 zeros) calculations per second, a staggering leap from the current record holders. For context, the fastest supercomputer today, the Frontier supercomputer in the United States, operates at just over one quintillion (1 followed by 18 zeros) calculations per second.
The decision to build such a powerful machine is driven by the need to keep pace with the rapid advancements in AI research. This new supercomputer will be the successor to Japan’s Fugaku supercomputer, which held the title of the world’s fastest supercomputer until 2022.
Fugaku Next will be a joint effort between RIKEN and Fujitsu, the same companies behind Fugaku. To ensure compatibility, Fugaku Next will likely utilize components designed by Fujitsu. However, details about the specific components remain scarce.
Building a zeta-class supercomputer poses significant challenges, primarily in terms of energy consumption. Experts predict that a machine of this magnitude would require the equivalent energy output of 21 nuclear power plants if built with current supercomputer technologies.
Despite the hurdles, the Japanese government has committed ¥4.2 billion ($29 million) for the first year of the project, with a potential allocation of up to ¥110 billion ($761 million) throughout the project’s lifespan. If construction goes according to plan, Fugaku Next will likely hold the title of the world’s most powerful supercomputer by 2030, barring any unforeseen developments or competitors.
