The University of Florida’s AI-centric data center will house the world’s fastest AI supercomputer in higher education.

Gifts of $25 million from UF alumnus Chris Malachowsky and $25 million in hardware, software, training, and services from NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) will underpin the University’s AI program. The University itself will contribute another $20 million.

Announced Tuesday, the collaboration “will catapult UF’s research strength to address some of the world’s most formidable challenges, create unprecedented access to AI training and tools for underrepresented communities, and build momentum for transforming the future of the workforce,” according to a blog.

The latest NVIDIA AI Technology Center will be located on the UF campus. UF Graduate Fellows and the tech giant’s employees can work together here to advance AI.

Challenges for UF’s AI

The new AI initiative will address major challenges such as rising seas, aging populations, data security, personalized medicine, urban transportation, and food insecurity.

It will extend beyond its campus to make AI available to K-12 students, state and community colleges, and businesses.

NVIDIA technology

The two organizations will boost the capabilities of the University’s existing supercomputer, HiPerGator. They will use the recently announced NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD architecture.

The third-generation HiPerGator will have access to NVIDIA’s most advanced AI software and integrate 140 NVIDIA DGX A100 systems with 1,120 NVIDIA A100 Tensor Core GPUs and high-performance NVIDIA Mellanox HDR 200Gb/s InfiniBand networking to deliver 700 petaflops of AI performance.

The University of Florida is the first higher learning institution in the U.S. to receive the DGX A100 systems.

“Artificial intelligence is the most powerful technology force of our time,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “Fueled by data and machine learning, AI is advancing at an exponential pace. It is impacting every industry from healthcare to transportation to the sciences.”

“This incredible gift from Chris and NVIDIA will propel the state of Florida to new heights as it strives to be an economic powerhouse, an unrivaled leader in job creation and an international model of 21st-century know-how,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said.

Related Story:     Blackstone’s Schwarzman Argues For International Cooperation on AI