AMD and NTU open data science and AI lab in Singapore

Chipmaker AMD yesterday officially opened a data science and artificial intelligence (AI) lab with the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore, in a bid to boost expertise in the growing subsector.

The new NTU-AMD Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab located in the university seeks to combine AMD’s deep learning technology and NTU’s strengths in machine learning, AI and data science.

About 150 students from NTU’s Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence programme have benefitted from the lab since its launch back in 2018.

In 2018, AMD provided one instance of AMD’s first-generation EPYC server processor and Radeon Instinct MI25 accelerator that can be scaled to handle hyperscale workloads.

In 2020, AMD upgraded the hardware to keep up with evolving server technology, providing five instances of AMD’s second generation EPYC processor and Radeon Instinct MI50 accelerator, designed with deep learning operations, exceptional double precision performance, and hyper-fast HBM2 memory.

This injection of advanced technology aims to expose students to invaluable real-world machine learning and deep learning application and gain new capabilities in the field. Through the collaboration, NTU students have also had attachment opportunities with AMD.

AMD’s AI and machine learning experts will continue to work closely with NTU professors to conduct joint training and workshop sessions for industry members.

NTU is also supporting AMD’s engineers who wish to pursue PhD programmes through the Economic Development Board’s Industrial Postgraduate Programme (IPP).

There are currently four AMD engineers under the programme, which aims to build a pool of postgraduate manpower in Singapore with critical research and development skillsets.