In a landmark move that could redefine America’s scientific computing landscape, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has entered a $1 billion partnership with semiconductor giant AMD to develop two next-generation supercomputers designed to accelerate breakthroughs in energy research, healthcare, and national security.
The two systems, named Lux and Discovery, will be deployed over the next four years at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee. The initiative represents one of the DOE’s largest-ever public–private collaborations in artificial intelligence and high-performance computing (HPC).
A Leap in Supercomputing Power
The first system, Lux, is scheduled to come online within six months. It will be powered by AMD’s cutting edge MI355X AI accelerators, capable of handling some of the most demanding computational tasks ever attempted in government research. DOE officials say Lux will deliver roughly three times the processing capacity of the department’s current top systems, enabling simulations and data analysis at unprecedented scale.
The second system, Discovery, is slated for deployment by 2029 and will feature AMD’s next-generation MI430 series chips, which are still in development. This system is expected to push the limits of hybrid AI and physics based modeling, combining classical supercomputing with machine learning for more adaptive research capabilities.
A Partnership for the Future
DOE Secretary Chris Wright called the partnership a “supercharge for American science,” saying it will enhance national capabilities in areas ranging from clean energy to defense readiness. “With these systems, we are investing not only in machines but in the people and ideas that will drive the next generation of discoveries,” Wright said at the announcement in Washington.
AMD Chair and CEO Dr. Lisa Su described the collaboration as a milestone for U.S. innovation. “The Lux system represents the fastest deployment of a high-performance AI supercomputer we’ve ever undertaken,” she said. “Our work with the DOE shows what’s possible when public investment and private innovation come together.”
The project will also involve Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, integrating advanced networking, cooling, and data-sharing systems to ensure both power efficiency and scalability. ORNL scientists will oversee system testing and early scientific workloads once the hardware is installed.
Transformative Applications
Beyond its technical achievements, the DOE AMD collaboration is expected to advance several mission critical research areas. Lux will support fusion energy simulations, which are key to achieving clean, near limitless power. It will also be used for advanced cancer research, modeling drug interactions and treatment responses far faster than current methods allow.
In national security, the systems will aid in complex nuclear simulations and cybersecurity modeling areas where precision and computational scale are critical. Analysts suggest that the initiative could also strengthen America’s technological independence by ensuring key hardware and software are developed domestically.
Strategic Significance
The partnership underscores growing recognition in Washington of the strategic importance of supercomputing and AI infrastructure. With countries like China and Japan investing heavily in exascale systems, the DOE’s collaboration with AMD positions the U.S. to maintain its leadership in both scientific and industrial innovation.
“This is about more than performance metrics,” said Dr. Erin Patel, a senior fellow at the Center for Emerging Technology. “It’s about ensuring that the computational foundation of American science remains secure, sustainable, and world-class.”
As Lux nears completion, engineers at Oak Ridge are already preparing workloads focused on climate modeling, materials science, and advanced physics fields that rely on massive data processing and simulation. If all goes as planned, the Discovery system will build on that foundation, pushing computing power to new frontiers and shaping the future of AI driven research.
source: edition.cnn.com
Leave a Reply