Highlights:
- The U.S. Department of Energy is launching a new supercomputer named “Doudna” in 2026.
- It will be used for AI, genomics, and national security research.
- Nvidia and Dell are supplying the hardware, and the project honors Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna.
- National security concerns have been raised about Nvidia’s activities in China.
- U.S. lawmakers emphasize maintaining export controls to prevent technology transfer to adversaries.
The U.S. Department of Energy has unveiled plans to launch a new supercomputer named “Doudna,” set to become operational in 2026 at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
The system, named after Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna for her groundbreaking work on CRISPR gene-editing, will play a key role in advancing artificial intelligence and scientific discovery, officials said on Thursday.
A New Chapter in U.S. Scientific Infrastructure
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced the initiative at a press conference joined by representatives from Nvidia and Dell Technologies. The supercomputer, part of the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, will support breakthroughs in fields ranging from chemistry and physics to genomics. “It will advance scientific discovery, from chemistry to physics to biology,” Wright said.
Dell is providing the computing infrastructure, while Nvidia will supply its latest AI chips. Dion Harris of Nvidia emphasized that genomics will be a priority area, noting, “It was basically just a nod to [Doudna’s] contributions to the field.”
Jennifer Doudna highlighted the synergy between biology and computing: “We’re standing at a really interesting moment in biology that really marks the intersection of biology with computing.”
Technology, Security, and Global Tensions
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang praised the project’s importance: “The scientific supercomputer is one of humanity’s most vital instruments… It is also a foundation for economic and technology leadership. And with that, national security.”
However, Huang’s remarks were clouded by controversy surrounding Nvidia’s planned R&D facility in Shanghai. Lawmakers, including Senators Jim Banks and Elizabeth Warren, have raised concerns over potential national security risks. Senator Tom Cotton warned on social media that export controls must not be circumvented: “Anyone who breaks the law… will be held accountable.”
While Doudna’s capabilities are promising, it remains to be seen how it will rank among the world’s fastest supercomputers, with the top slot currently held by El Capitan in nearby Livermore.
Also in the News:
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- Nvidia Shares Up After Export Curbs to China Cause Smaller Sales Dip
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