The Texas Advanced Computing Center’s (TACC) supercomputers have been chosen by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to participate in a pilot program aimed at supporting AI research and education at a national scale. The pilot, called the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) pilot, is a step towards the development of a research infrastructure that will provide access to critical resources for AI discovery and innovation.
“We welcome new AI users into TACC and are thrilled to make these resources available as part of NAIRR to spur innovation, increase the diversity of talent, and improve capacity,” said Dan Stanzione, executive director of TACC and associate vice president for research at The University of Texas at Austin.
The pilot program will provide U.S.-based researchers, educators, and students with unique access to tools, data, and support to explore AI technology. The goal is to strengthen and democratize access to resources necessary for responsible AI research and development.
“By investing in AI research through the NAIRR pilot, the United States unleashes discovery and impact and bolsters its global competitiveness,” said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. “To continue leading in AI research and development, we must create opportunities across the country to advance AI innovation and strengthen educational opportunities, empowering the nation to shape international standards and igniting economic growth. NSF is proud to lead this effort with our current and future partners.”
The pilot program includes a select group of six AI computing resources, including TACC’s supercomputers, which are known for their large modern GPU-based AI resources. These resources will be made available to researchers, educators, and students in three primary categories: AI researchers, educators incorporating AI tools and training resources into learning environments, and students learning about AI.
The pilot program is divided into four focus areas: “NAIRR Open” will provide access to resources for AI research, “NAIRR Secure” will focus on AI privacy and security, “NAIRR Software” will explore the interoperable use of pilot resources, and “NAIRR Classroom” will focus on education, training, user support, and outreach.
Future goals for the NAIRR pilot program include the addition of new computing resources, expanded datasets, improved AI output models, and new software tools. The NAIRR Allocations team is currently accepting open proposals from research scientists and gathering input through a potential use-case survey.
The Texas Advanced Computing Center has been a leading resource provider for the NSF for many years and is committed to facilitating open science research. The center is dedicated to powering discoveries that change the world through its advanced computing resources.
Overall, the selection of TACC’s supercomputers for the NAIRR pilot program is a significant step towards advancing AI research and education in the United States. With access to these resources, researchers, educators, and students will have the opportunity to explore AI technology and contribute to the development of responsible AI innovation.
