Nvidia SuperPod for Switzerland: Swisscom launches AI platform

Swisscom has taken another important step in its artificial intelligence offensive. The so-called “SuperPOD” is now running in our own data centers and has its first practical applications.

Six months after the official announcement, the time has come: Swisscom has put the first Nvidia supercomputer for artificial intelligence applications into operation in Switzerland.

As announced on Thursday, with so-called “SuperPODs,” enterprise customers can rent computing power on demand for their own artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

What does a SuperPod look like?

From the outside, the American graphics chip giant's 16 computer units look like a nobler version of server modules: where the lights usually flicker, Nvidia has installed a square stainless steel cover, as seen during a visit to the Swisscom data center As arrived.

View of server cabinet and stainless steel cover.Image: Swisscom

Nvidia's 16 compute units require relatively little space. More than three-quarters of the space in Big Blue's data center remains empty.

But Nvidia's modules are extremely sturdy: Each module weighs 130 kilograms and must be lifted into the server frame with a small crane, data center leaders said during a tour.

With Nvidia's 16 computing units, Swisscom has put half of the US company's SuperPods into operation. This means that the level of equipment in Switzerland is only half that of Italy. Milan-based Swisscom subsidiary Fastweb already has a running SuperPod containing 32 modules.

What do you need huge amounts of computing power for?

Swisscom is applying new IT muscle to its Swiss enterprise artificial intelligence platform, which was officially launched on Thursday (today).

Thanks to SuperPod’s high computing power, enterprise customers can process large amounts of data, such as for training, fine-tuning and operating AI models (More on that below).

The back of the 130kg module.Image: Swisscom

What does this actually mean?

Swisscom is already testing the first applications on its artificial intelligence platform: it is testing an application with Thurgauer Kantonalbank Bank employee chatbot. This allows you to query internal instructions without having to laboriously search for them from the PDF.

The telecommunications group is also working with Thurgauer KB to develop solutions Automatically respond to customers’ online inquiries.

In addition, Swisscom is checking Automatically transcribe calls to emergency organizations. It transcribes calls in standard German, saving emergency center staff a lot of documentation work. Swisscom is also working on automating responses to inquiries from enterprise customers.

In addition to using Nvidia supercomputers, Swisscom's Swiss AI platform also provides customers with various AI-related services:

And data protection?

The new Swisscom platform guarantees data processing and storage in Switzerland. Enterprise account manager Urs Lehner told the media that companies can decide which data to transfer to the platform.

In principle, the relevant data can only be accessed in Switzerland, although companies can share data with their international units. Nvidia itself also doesn't have access to enterprise customers' data.

meet needs

Managing member Lehner is pleased with the interest in the AI ​​platform from enterprise customers. Swisscom is in very in-depth discussions with more than 50 companies and organizations and is already implementing test projects. Demand is particularly strong from the financial sector and the public sector.

At the beginning of 2024, Swisscom announced the launch of an AI offensive and expressed its intention to invest 100 million Swiss francs in research and development of related technologies.

source

(dsc/sda/awp)

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