Taipei: Nvidia Corp. CEO Jensen Huang announced a partnership between his company, Taiwan’s government, and tech giants Foxconn Hon Hai Technology Group and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. TSMC to build “the first giant AI supercomputer” for Taiwan. Huang made the announcement during his keynote speech at the trade show Computex, currently being held in Taipei.
According to Focus Taiwan, the initiative is aimed at developing world-class AI infrastructure in Taiwan, which is home to numerous companies engaged in robotics and AI research. This new supercomputer is expected to cater to Taiwan’s AI infrastructure and ecosystem, benefiting researchers, students, startups, and established companies.
In a press release issued Monday, Nvidia stated that the “AI factory supercomputer” will feature state-of-the-art Nvidia Blackwell infrastructure. Foxconn, also known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. in Taiwan, will deliver the AI infrastructure through its subsidiary Big Innovation Company. The supercomputer will be equipped with 10,000 Nvidia Blackwell GPUs, significantly expanding AI computing availability and fueling innovation for Taiwan researchers and enterprises.
Foxconn plans to utilize the AI supercomputer to enhance automation and efficiency across its core business sectors, including smart cities, electric vehicles, and manufacturing. This approach aims to connect industries, citizens, and government organizations to drive growth with AI.
Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) will leverage the supercomputer to provide AI cloud computing resources to the nation’s technology ecosystem, accelerating AI development and adoption across various sectors. TSMC researchers will also benefit from the system, achieving faster performance in their research and development efforts.
The AI factory is expected to enhance smart city initiatives by optimizing connected transportation systems and other public infrastructure, improving the quality of life for people in Taiwan. In the realm of smart electric vehicles, the AI infrastructure will support advanced driver-assistance systems to enhance safety. For manufacturing, AI-driven analytics, automation, and digital twin technologies will streamline operations and expedite product iteration.
NSTC head Wu Cheng-Wen highlighted the plan to create an AI-focused industrial ecosystem in southern Taiwan, emphasizing investment in innovative research, the development of a robust AI industry, and the promotion of everyday AI tool usage. Wu expressed the ultimate goal of creating a smart AI island filled with smart cities, in collaboration with Nvidia and Hon Hai.