Talking with Jack Wells, Director of Science at Oak Ridge National Lab

In this episode of From Here to AI, we had the pleasure of speaking with Jack Wells, the Director of Science at Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, established with the Manhattan Project before World War 2, continues to be a hotspot for research and technology. Jack Wells provided us with insights into the world of high-performance computing and deep learning, shedding light on the future of AI in the enterprise.

A Brief Background of Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is a Department of Energy science and energy laboratory, home to world-leading research facilities for supercomputing, neutron science, material science, advanced manufacturing, and more. As the largest science and energy lab in the US, Oak Ridge has been at the forefront of scientific and engineering research for the past 25 years.

The Role of Director of Science

As the Director of Science at Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility, Jack Wells plays a crucial role in managing the facility as a user facility. He ensures that the supercomputer is operated with policies and procedures that align with the needs of the scientists and researchers who access the facility for scientific computing and data science.

A Unique Career Path

Jack Wells’ journey to his current role is unique, stemming from a deep scientific and mathematical background. He emphasizes the importance of blending scientific expertise with an understanding of the business requirements and market trends, especially in the realm of high-performance computing.

The Shift Towards Machine Learning and Deep Learning

While supercomputing has traditionally been associated with simulation science, there has been a noticeable shift towards machine learning and deep learning. The demand for AI and deep learning capabilities in various fields, including climate science, medical applications, defence, and more, has driven the need for advanced supercomputing technologies.

The Collaboration of Oak Ridge, Argonne, and Livermore (CORAL)

The collaboration of Oak Ridge, Argonne, and Livermore led to the development of the CORAL project, aiming to drive efficiencies in the procurement process and focus on diverse architectures for supercomputers. This initiative resulted in the procurement of multi-petaflop supercomputers from leading vendors, with Oak Ridge selecting IBM for the construction of the Summit supercomputer.

Leveraging Off-the-Shelf Components for Supercomputing

Despite the massive scale of investment in supercomputing, Oak Ridge leverages off-the-shelf components and works closely with technology companies like IBM to meet their specific requirements. The focus on energy efficiency and performance drives the integration of commodity components into a massive supercomputing system.

The Vision for Summit: The World’s Smartest Supercomputer

The vision for Summit as the world’s smartest supercomputer stems from the deployment of GPU-accelerated architectures, specifically tuned towards AI and deep learning. This strategic shift towards smarter computing reflects the evolving needs of scientific and engineering research, paving the way for groundbreaking advancements in AI and deep learning.

In conclusion, the conversation with Jack Wells offers a glimpse into the cutting-edge developments in high-performance computing and the integration of AI and deep learning into supercomputing technologies. Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s pursuit of building the world’s smartest supercomputer exemplifies the intersection of scientific innovation and technological advancement, setting the stage for transformative discoveries in the field of AI.