AMD to Drive US Supercomputing Revolution at Oak Ridge

AMD has secured a pivotal role in the U. S. government’s ambitions to bolster artificial intelligence and scientific research, with the announcement of its involvement in powering the next-generation supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The new system, named Discovery, will become one of the most advanced computational platforms in the world, supporting groundbreaking research in various scientific fields and accelerating the development of AI capabilities in the U. S.

The Discovery supercomputer is part of the U. S. Department of Energy’s ongoing efforts to establish a robust, national AI ecosystem that can compete with global supercomputing leaders. ORNL, located in Tennessee, is the primary site for the nation’s computational research. AMD’s involvement, announced in late 2025, solidifies its growing influence in the high-performance computing space. The company will supply its cutting-edge processors to meet the immense computational demands of Discovery, enhancing both AI research and scientific exploration across industries.

The supercomputer, expected to launch in the coming years, will be central to projects in a variety of sectors, including climate modelling, advanced materials development, and bioengineering. With its integration of AI tools, Discovery will serve as a crucial platform for simulating complex scenarios, from predicting climate patterns to advancing drug discovery. The system’s scale and speed will enable researchers to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity, all while contributing to the broader goal of enhancing U. S. technological leadership.

AMD’s role in the project is particularly significant given its focus on high-performance processors for AI and machine learning. The company’s processors, particularly the EPYC line, have become a cornerstone in supercomputing and AI infrastructure due to their ability to process vast amounts of data simultaneously. These chips will be at the heart of Discovery’s computing power, helping to drive the AI models and simulations necessary for next-generation scientific breakthroughs.

This partnership also aligns with the broader strategic initiative to develop an “Open American AI stack,” which aims to foster an open-source ecosystem for AI development in the U. S. Discovery will provide the computational foundation for this initiative, which is set to include contributions from various stakeholders across academia, industry, and government. By powering such an ambitious AI framework, AMD is helping to accelerate the U. S.’s AI capabilities and positioning the country to maintain a competitive edge in global AI research.

The scale of Discovery will make it one of the most powerful supercomputers in existence, providing an unprecedented computational capacity to the U. S. scientific community. The platform’s combination of advanced AI tools and HPC infrastructure will help push the boundaries of what is possible with AI-driven research. As such, the project represents a crucial milestone in the development of AI technologies, which are poised to transform industries such as healthcare, energy, and materials science.

This collaboration also demonstrates the U. S. government’s ongoing commitment to harnessing AI for national security, economic growth, and scientific innovation. By supporting the creation of Discovery, the government is not only advancing domestic research capabilities but also positioning the U. S. as a leader in the global AI arms race. The success of such projects will have far-reaching implications, potentially reshaping industries and creating new technological frontiers.