The U.K. government will spend £36 million to expand Cambridge University’s Dawn supercomputer—renamed Zenith—boosting its AI capacity sixfold by spring. The investment, part of the national AI Research Resource program, gives researchers and companies free access to high-powered computing typically reserved for Big Tech. Officials say the system will underpin efforts such as quicker medical diagnoses, personalized cancer vaccines and improved climate modeling. Built with partners Dell, AMD and StackHPC, the machine requires 50 engineers, draws about 1 megawatt of power and uses water roughly equivalent to 20 homes. Cambridge officials say efficiency is a priority as the U.K. looks to convert cutting-edge AI infrastructure into tangible public-service gains.
