AI Revolution: Catalyst for Computing Power Demand Surge and Accelerated Construction of Computing Network 'Highways'

[baoshi.rao]

Large-scale model algorithms are propelling artificial intelligence toward more versatile applications, leading to a surge in demand for intelligent computing power. Around computing hub nodes, 130 backbone optical cables have been constructed, greatly enhancing data transmission performance. The industrial chain continues to expand, with China ranking first globally in the production of computing products such as servers and computers... The 2023 China Computing Power Conference, recently held in Yinchuan, Ningxia, revealed new developments and trends in the computing power industry, highlighting its role as a crucial foundation for digital and intelligent transformation across society.

From scientific research to industrial production, and even in daily life, computing power is permeating every aspect like water and electricity. In recent years, both central and local governments have introduced a series of important policies and implemented major engineering projects to accelerate the development of the computing power industry.

Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong presented the latest data at the conference. As of now, China's total operational data center rack capacity exceeds 7.6 million standard racks, with a total computing power of 197 exaflops (EFLOPS), ranking second globally. The computing power industry has begun to take shape, with China leading the world in the production of computing products such as servers, computers, and smartphones.

Particularly, the development of AI technologies like large-scale models has further driven the growth in computing power demand. According to the China Comprehensive Computing Power Index (2023) released by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) at the conference, general computing power accounts for 74% of the current computing scale, while intelligent computing power accounts for 25%, a 60% year-on-year increase.

"This reflects the significant role of large-scale models in driving the demand for AI computing power," said Yu Xiaohui, President of CAICT, noting that China's computing power structure is optimizing, with intelligent computing demand showing explosive growth.

Huawei Chairman Liang Hua also emphasized that rapid advancements in industries such as autonomous driving, life sciences, and smart manufacturing have led to escalating demands for computing power to support ultra-large AI models and massive datasets. Intelligent computing power suitable for large-scale model training has become the primary driver of computing growth.

Reporters observed that with the surge in intelligent computing demand, multiple stakeholders are increasing the supply of high-performance intelligent computing, accelerating key technological breakthroughs, and unleashing the empowering effects of AI computing.

Jin Zhuanglong stated that the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will continue optimizing infrastructure layout. This includes refining the top-level design for high-quality development of computing facilities, coordinating computing resources, expanding high-performance intelligent computing supply, enhancing network reliability, and improving efficiency in resource utilization.

Enterprises are also ramping up AI innovation efforts and upgrading computing infrastructure. In Zhongwei, Ningxia, the "China Unicom Intelligent Computing Training-Inference Integrated Hub Construction Action Plan" was recently launched. During the conference, China Unicom staff introduced plans to build the first intelligent computing training-inference integrated hub in western China, which will provide AI training-inference services and boost the intelligent computing industry in Ningxia and the broader western region.

Meanwhile, China Telecom is strengthening independent R&D in AI frameworks, algorithm models, and scheduling platforms, building the Xinghe AI Algorithm Platform, and collaborating with partners to develop industry-specific large models and intelligent applications. China Mobile is systematically advancing the integration of general computing, intelligent computing, supercomputing, and quantum computing, initiating the construction of Asia's largest single intelligent computing center.

"The construction of computing infrastructure is in full swing. While accelerating the development of national hub nodes and large-scale data centers, the importance of edge computing infrastructure is becoming increasingly prominent," said Zhang Zhiyong, Chairman of China Tower. He emphasized continued efforts to improve public computing layouts, provide edge intelligent computing and shared computing services based on AI hardware and software, expand computing supply, and realize the vision of ubiquitous computing and pervasive intelligence.

The realization of 'ubiquitous computing power' relies on the support of computing networks. According to data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the National Bureau of Statistics, China has built 130 backbone optical cables around computing power hub nodes, significantly improving data transmission performance. In the first half of this year, investments in new information infrastructure such as 5G and data centers grew by 13.1%, while investments in integrated new infrastructure like industrial internet and smart transportation increased by 34.1%.

Industry experts point out that in practice, heterogeneous computing power and software incompatibility are common. Connecting existing computing centers with different architectures through networks can enable reasonable allocation, sharing, scheduling, and release of more computing power while lowering the barrier to application.

'To maximize the utility of computing power and directly contribute to GDP, two technical challenges must be addressed: first, ultra-broadband, ultra-low-latency network connections for large-scale computing centers nationwide; and second, computing power scheduling,' said Gao Wen, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

During the conference, China Mobile, in collaboration with multiple supercomputing centers, AI computing centers, and cloud service providers, launched the largest-scale 'Baichuan' computing power grid integration initiative in the country. The platform features a national computing network map that simultaneously integrates general computing, AI computing, supercomputing, and quantum computing. It collaborates with national-level supercomputing centers, authoritative AI computing providers, and leading cloud service providers for grid integration, and has partnered with CETC and Boson Quantum to achieve optical quantum computing integration. Currently, the platform offers a total computing power supply capacity exceeding 10 EFLOPS.

'We aim to provide a new model for computing power supply, building a unified computing network that makes computing power as accessible as electricity,' said Wang Xiaoyun, Chief Scientist at China Mobile.

Industry insiders note that the accelerating digitalization, networking, and intelligentization across various sectors have driven exponential growth in demand for computing services, expanding the diversity of computing network development. With the continuous optimization of China's computing network layout and further activation of national computing resources, the empowering effect of computing power will be further unleashed, driving the digital economy to new heights.